THURROCK Council’s Trading Standards team is keeping Thurrock safe by stopping a record number of unsafe items reaching consumers in the UK.
National Trading Standards provides funding to the team, allowing them to focus on preventing unsafe goods from entering the UK via London Gateway and Tilbury ports.
Between April and June 2017, 63 consignments from countries including China, Hong Kong, Pakistan, United States, Nigeria and Brazil were examined by officers. Using a variety of methods combined with excellent partnerships between other Local Authorities and UK Border Force, officers uncovered that of the 121 products 85% of them were determined to be unsafe or non-compliant.
Items checked included children’s ride-on scooters, LED floodlights, hair dyes, table lamps made of Himalayan salt and canvas play tents.
During the three month period, over 41,000 unsafe items and over 82,000 non-compliant items were prevented from entering the country. The items were either destroyed by the importers or destroyed or recycled by Trading Standards.
Cllr Sue MacPherson, Portfolio Holder responsible for Trading Standards said: “By preventing these items from entering the country, the team has saved the UK economy nearly £4million.
“The team has been working tirelessly, across agencies, destroying a significant number of unsafe goods. Since January this year, 14 pallets have been destroyed. The items weighing approximately nine tonnes (picture attached) included hover boards, lighting products, electrical appliances, hair products, wooden and plush toys, USB phone charges, beauty products, scooters and mothballs.
“My thanks go out to them for continuing to keep consumers safe and protected from dangerous items.”
For more information on Trading Standards, visit: thurrock.gov.uk/tradingstandards
