BUSINESS ADVICE UPDATE

Transcription

1 Edition 8 Public Protection Service BUSINESS ADVICE UPDATE /

2 Contract Pest Control Service Wrexham Councils Pest Control Department, is able to offer you a competitive Contract for Rodents in the Wrexham area, which offers peace of mind in the prevention of pests. It is tailor made to your needs and will provide a regular monitoring and treatment service. Our highly trained operatives provide a professional and friendly service and come with many years experience in the Pest Control Service Area. Prevention is better than Cure! To receive your FREE no obligation Survey and Quote Call: contact-us@wrexham.gov.uk Or visit our website at: wrexham.gov.uk 1

3 Food Hygiene Ratings Introduction of compulsory display of sticker You may be aware that the Welsh Government will be introducing legislation requiring all food businesses to display their food hygiene rating sticker. This is expected to come into force from November You will wish to be aware that failure to display the sticker could result in a Fixed Penalty Notice for 200, with a reduction to 150 for early payment. If, following an inspection, you are required to carry out improvements, and you make these improvements, you can ask the local authority for a revisit to be carried out to check if a new rating can be given. Under the new Act, a revisit will be required to take place within three months of the request being made if the request is accompanied by notification of the improvements carried out. However, the business will be required to pay for such a visit at a price yet to be determined nationally. You will still have the option of appealing your rating if you believe the hygiene rating given does not accurately reflect the conditions at the time of the officer s visit. You will receive further information before the Act comes into force later in the year. For further information contact the Food Safety team on

4 Health and Safety Health and Safety laws apply to all businesses, no matter how small. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have been updating their website to assist businesses in complying with health and safety. The site explains what the law requires and helps you put it into practice. It is easy to use and will help you comply with the law and prevent workplace accidents and ill health. Whatever line of work you re in, it will help you run a safe and healthy workplace. Information is in sections headed How to manage health and safety, i.e. how to identify, assess and control the activities that might cause harm in your business and Your organisation, Your workers and Your workplace applies to all businesses. You can select the topics that are relevant to you from a list including asbestos, electricity, gas, harmful substances etc. Looking at your workplace in the way the site suggests will help you and your workers stay safe and healthy. It will also go a long way to satisfying the law including the risk assessment that you must do under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations The website can be found at: 3

5 Licensing Requirements for England and Wales The Licensing Act 2003 regulates the sale and consumption of alcohol, for England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland has separate legislation. Throughout England and Wales the sale of alcohol is restricted to pubs, clubs restaurants, shops and certain other premises, these premises must be licensed by the local authority. The individual responsible for the premises is known as the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) and must also hold a personal licence, also issued by the local authority. Premises licences, in as far as they concern the sale of alcohol, can be categorized to include on-licences (allowing consumption of alcohol on the premises) and off-licences (alcohol must be removed from the vendor s premises and consumed elsewhere). Many on-licensed premises also permit off-sales. The age at which people are legally allowed to purchase alcohol is 18 in most circumstances. Adults purchasing alcohol on behalf of a person under 18 in a pub or from an off-licence are liable to prosecution along with the vendor. The Act also regulates the provision of late night refreshment (Hot food and drink between the hours of and 05.00) and the provision of regulated entertainment, which included plays, films, indoor sporting events, boxing and wrestling, live and recorded music and dancing. For further information visit: licensing/index.htm 4

6 Selling at a distance and the Distance Selling hub If you sell to consumers online, or sell at a distance by another method such as digital TV, mail order, phone or fax, then the Distance Selling Regulations may apply to you. The OFT s Distance Selling hub is a free online resource for businesses and their staff. Developed in partnership with stakeholders and business partners, this provides online training and guidance for businesses: The Distance Selling (DS) hub. Information is relevant and supportive and available in one easy to access place in a manner that is user friendly, straightforward and engaging. The hub covers regulations that affect buying and selling goods and services via the internet, by phone or by mail order (the Distance Selling Regulations - DSRs) and electronic means such as the internet, , interactive TV or phone texting (the E-Commerce Regulations - ECRs). Distance Selling - an overview In general you are required to: give potential customers certain information in advance, such as your name and address, the goods you are selling or the services you are providing, the price (including all taxes), delivery cost, delivery arrangements, and customers right to cancel send customers an order confirmation giving information such as your postal address and cancellation arrangements allow customers a seven working day cooling off period during which they can cancel their contract with you. For further advice on this or any other trading standards issues please contact Wrexham Trading Standards. Call: trading.standards@wrexham.gov.uk 5