From single-use vapes and plastic straws to calorie-labelling and wet wipes, legislation is in place that’s designed to keep consumers healthy and safe from harmful products and the countryside and waterways protected from pollution.
While the legislation is introduced by national government, enforcing it falls to trading standards teams across the country.
Our trading standards team is responsible for enforcing consumer protection and product safety legislation covering almost 300 individual laws and must produce guidance on how these laws will be enforced locally.
For example, the guidance will determine what is the most appropriate and effective sanction, whether that’s a fine or prosecution, on a business or individual if they have not complied with certain legislation following an improvement notice.
New draft enforcement guidance has recently been drawn up by our trading standards team covering a number of areas and they are now seeking views, comments and feedback from residents, businesses and other parties and organisations before the guidance is formally agreed.
A 4-week consultation has now been launched to seek views as well as to raise awareness of the guidance.
Our Cabinet member for Communities and Safety Councillor Dan Price said:
“The guidance covers a range of important consumer protection, public health and environmental regulations, including food labelling, single-use plastics, wet wipes and vaping products. It is appropriate that our trading standards service has a clear and transparent framework for determining enforcement action where businesses fail to comply with their legal obligations.
“I particularly welcome the decision to undertake a public consultation, providing residents, businesses and other stakeholders with an opportunity to review the proposals and contribute their views before the guidance is finalised, after all we work for the residents. This will help ensure the guidance is both proportionate and effective while maintaining confidence in the enforcement process.’’
The consultation relates to 7 specific pieces of legislation where enforcement guidance is required:
- Calorie Labelling (Out of Home Sector) (England) Regulations 2021
- Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021
- Environmental Protection (Microbeads) (England) Regulations 2017
- Environmental Protection (Plastic Straws, Cotton Buds and Stirrers) (England) Regulations 2020
- Environmental Protection (Plastic Plates etc. and Polystyrene Containers etc.) (England) Regulations 2023
- Environmental Protection (Single‑use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024
- The Environmental Protection (Wet Wipes Containing Plastic) (England) Regulations 2025.
See the consultation and summaries of each of these regulations
To support the consultation, the draft enforcement guidance has been grouped into 3 documents:
- food regulations (calorie labelling and high in fat, sugar and salt, HFSS, restrictions)
- environmental regulations (microbeads, plastics and wet wipes)
- single-use vapes regulations.
People wanting to give their views and feedback can review the draft documents and provide their comments, queries or feedback by email to: trading.standards@derbyshire.gov.uk
The consultation closes at midnight on 12 August 2026.