Home ==== Welcome ======= The Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service advises and supports businesses to grow and develop, works to protect consumers and the economy by ensuring legal and honest trading, and offers services to other local authorities. We also support the agriculture industry to ensure good animal health and welfare. The Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service is commissioned by Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay councils. For consumer advice or to talk to someone about problems you’ve had with a trader or business… ![](https://beta.devon.gov.uk/tradingstandards/wp-content/uploads/sites/129/2025/09/image-150x150.png) visit [Citizens Advice](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-more-help-about-a-consumer-issue/) or call on **[0808 223 1133](tel:08082231133)** More consumer information - [Buy With Confidence – approved traders](https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/business/how-it-works-business/) - [Scams and rogue traders](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/consumer/scams-rogue-traders-and-doorstep-crime/) - [Product safety and recalls](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/consumer/product-safety/) Services and guidance for Businesses ---------- Designed to meet your business needs Our paid-for, tailored advice can help you grow and develop your business. By coming to us, you can invest in compliance confidently knowing you’re receiving advice from the experts who enforce the legislation. You can pay for advice through our Primary Authority or Buy With Confidence schemes, or on an hourly basis, allowing you to create a flexible, affordable package to meet your needs. ### Business services - [Primary Authority](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/business/primary-authority/) - [Licensing](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/business/licences-and-registration/) - [Weights and measures](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/business/weights-and-measures/) ### Guidance and resources - [Consumer rights and fair trading](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/business/consumer-rights/) - [Food law](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/business/food-law-guidance/) - [Product safety](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/business/product-safety/) - [Age restricted products](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/business/age-restricted-products/) - [New businesses](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/business/new-businesses/) - [Heart of the South West Growth Hub](https://www.heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk/) Buy With Confidence ------------------- Become trading standards approved Are you a business that customers can trust? Find out more about our approved trader scheme and use our badge of approval to let people know you’re a business consumers can have confidence in. Devon businesses can extend their Buy With Confidence membership to be part of [Made in Devon](https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/madeindevon). [Add your business](https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/business/home/) Services and guidance for Agriculture ----------- Supporting farmers and the agriculture industry Our service covers one of the largest farming regions in the country, with tens of thousands of holdings, a number of slaughterhouses and regular livestock markets and important agricultural events held throughout the year. As a result, advice, guidance and enforcement on animal health, welfare and disease control legislation is a high priority for us, and we aim to work alongside the agriculture industry to protect the health and welfare of livestock. ### Animal disease Defra Rural Services Helpline Report a notifiable animal disease [**03000 200 301**](tel:03000200301) - [Advice about diseases](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/agriculture/animal-disease/) - [Contingency planning](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/agriculture/animal-disease/contingency-plans/) - [Animal disease announcements](#) ### Guidance and resources - [Farming standards](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/agriculture/farming-standards-guidance/) - [Animal movements](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/agriculture/animal-movement/) - [Feed and food hygiene](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/agriculture/animal-feed/) - [Animal welfare](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/agriculture/animal-welfare/) - [Animal gatherings](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/agriculture/animal-gatherings/) - [Guidance for abattoirs](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/agriculture/guidance-for-abattoirs/) - [Veterinary medicine book](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/agriculture/veterinary-medicine-book/) Services for local authorities ------------------------------ We offer intelligence products, accredited financial investigation and weights and measures services to other local authorities at a competitive price. [Intelligence](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/local-authorities/intelligence/) [Financial investigators](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/local-authorities/accredited-financial-investigators/) [Weights and measures](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/business/weights-and-measures/) Latest news ----------- - ### [Second Ilfracombe shop closed over illegal tobacco in just two weeks](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/second-ilfracombe-shop-closed-over-illegal-tobacco-in-just-two-weeks/) An Ilfracombe shop has been ordered to close for three months following the sale of illegal tobacco, becoming the second premises in the town to be closed for illegal tobacco … [Continue reading →](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/second-ilfracombe-shop-closed-over-illegal-tobacco-in-just-two-weeks/) - ### [Ilfracombe shop closed for three months after illegal tobacco seizure](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/ilfracombe-shop-closed-for-three-months-after-illegal-tobacco-seizure/) An Ilfracombe shop has been ordered to close for three months following an investigation into the sale of illegal tobacco. City Market, 31 High Street, Ilfracombe, was given a three-month … [Continue reading →](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/ilfracombe-shop-closed-for-three-months-after-illegal-tobacco-seizure/) - ### [Have a safe, considerate and greener Halloween](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/have-a-safe-considerate-and-greener-halloween/) With Halloween fast approaching, families are being encouraged to enjoy the celebrations safely, consider others in their communities and make choices that help reduce waste. Whether you’re choosing a costume, … [Continue reading →](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/have-a-safe-considerate-and-greener-halloween/) [View all news](https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/news/) ### Newsletters Keep in touch with the latest information and advice from Trading Standards by subscribing to receive our free newsletters for businesses and consumers. [Sign up](https://pages.info.devon.gov.uk/p/trading-standards)