Skip to content

Consumer news

Buying beach products this summer? Look at the label…


Posted on: 29 July 2024

The summer holidays are here and Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service is offering some helpful reminders when you are buying products to help you and your family make the most of what will (hopefully) be a period of fine weather.

When buying sunglasses or sun cream for instance it’s tempting to buy the cheapest product on offer – but it’s important to ensure that when buying sunglasses to look for the UKCA/CE mark, as well as the UV rating or British Standard BS EN ISO 12312.

Sun cream should be labelled with the manufacturer’s details as well as the ingredients, while beach clothes for under-7s should not have drawstrings in the head or neck area.

Items such as rubber rings, armbands and water flotation products should have a water safety warning saying they should be used under supervision and are not to be used in open water.

Some products like armbands will be marked with the suitable age or weight range.

Barbeques should be labelled with warnings on how to use safely.

Alex Fry, Operations Manager for Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service, said: “We always advise that you buy from a reputable trader, including when buying from an online business, and that you should check second-hand products carefully for safety.”

For more information on using BBQs safely, see Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service’s barbecues guide.

Trampolines for use by children at home should be UKCA or CE marked, with instructions about adult supervision and appropriate age warnings. For more safety advice see the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’ garden trampolines guide.

If you have a problem with a product or need consumer advice, please call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 or visit Citizens Advice – contact the consumer service.

For further product safety advice see our product safety guide.


Top