Trading standards - privacy notice
Read the privacy notice for trading standards.
We've a statutory duty to enforce various consumer protection and trading standards statutes, which are designed to protect and promote the health, safety and economic wellbeing of residents and businesses and in so doing, the wider community beyond our boundaries.
Trading standards also gives advice to consumers and businesses on their rights and responsibilities under these laws. This covers:
- fair trading including the supply, pricing and description of goods and services
- anti-counterfeiting/illicit trade
- weights and measures
- product safety including explosives licensing
- the sale of age restricted products such as tobacco and fireworks
- tobacco and NVP registration and enforcement
- petrol certification and licensing
- animal feed business registration
- animal health and welfare
We use your personal information to give advice and guidance, conduct investigations and ensure compliance with the relevant laws. This includes:
- receiving and investigating consumer complaints
- responding to service requests from businesses and individuals
- monitoring, researching, analysing and reporting intelligence requirements to detect and
- prevent crime or fraud
- ensuring compliance with legislation through a range of enforcement activities including visits, inspections and testing
- conducting investigations and enquiries into criminal offences and civil law breaches
- operating assurance schemes for businesses and referral agencies
- managing registration, certification and licensing
- planning and improving the service we offer
- The Consumer Rights Act 2015
- The Enterprise Act 2002
- The Weights and Measure Act 1985
A full list of trading standards legislation is available on request or on our trading standards web page.
For some activities, we may process more sensitive personal information about you known as special category data such as health information. Processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest as set in Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act 2018 and in Article 9(2) (g) of the GDPR. More information is set out in the table to this notice.
- the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS)
- Police Scotland
- the Health and Safety Executive
- other enforcing authorities
- other council services
If you've concerns about the processing of your personal data by us, you can contact our Data Protection Officer at dpo@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk.
For independent advice about data protection, privacy and data sharing, visit the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) website (opens new window).
What we do | Why we do it | Legal basis for processing |
Getting complaints or enquiries from members of the public about trading standards matters | To carry out the law enforcement functions, prevent further crime and to safeguard individuals | The processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for one of the law enforcement purposes by a competent authority |
Getting information about victim's or potential victim's name, address and contact details from the National Trading Standards Scam Hub database, Compass | To carry out the law enforcement functions, prevent further crime and to safeguard individuals | The processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for one of the law enforcement purposes by a competent authority |
Receiving referrals from other organisations including: businesses, consumer advice organisations, other trading standards services, Police Scotland and other enforcement agencies or elected members | To carry out the law enforcement functions, prevent further crime and to safeguard individuals | The processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for one of the law enforcement purposes by a competent authority |
Opening investigation case files and adding to it as investigation progresses | To carry out the law enforcement functions, prevent further crime and to safeguard individuals | The processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for one of the law enforcement purposes by a competent authority |
Making referrals to Adult Social Work, (where there are adult support and protection concerns) which may be relevant to the future prevention and detection of crime, and where Trading Standards Officers may have adult support and protection concerns about the victim | To prevent further crime and to safeguard individuals. To fulfil our statutory duties and functions under the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 and Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 where adults may be at risk of harm or need social work support | Article 6(1)(c) and Article 6(1)(e) and of the GDPR |
Making case referrals to Police Scotland, where appropriate (this will be cases where our trading standards function isn't the appropriate enforcement authority). | To carry out the law enforcement functions, prevent further crime and to safeguard individuals | The processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for one of the law enforcement purposes by a competent authority |
Making case referrals to other enforcement agencies and passing on information about our investigation | To carry out law enforcement functions for which they've a statutory duty | The processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for one of the law enforcement purposes by a competent authority |
Receiving, logging and responding to reports of suspected criminal activity or offences from members of the public (including victims, witnesses and suspects) | To carry out the law enforcement functions, prevent further crime and to safeguard individuals | The processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for one of the law enforcement purposes by a competent authority |
Receiving applications for petrol licences, storage of explosives licences or second-hand dealers licences | To carry out our functions under Health and Safety Act and Parts 1 and 2 and Schedule 1 of the Civic (Government) (Scotland) Act 1982 | The processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for one of the law enforcement purposes by a competent authority |
Making case referrals to COPFS | To raise criminal proceedings in court | Only the COPFS is competent to raise criminal proceedings in Scotland |