The Home Authority Principle and the Primary Authority Scheme

Businesses are encouraged to build up a relationship with their “Home Authority” – the trading standards service for the area where their head office is based. The Home Authority can provide a single reference point for trading standards advice and can act as a conduit for referrals from services across the country.   

Alternatively, if a more formal arrangement is required, businesses can form a "Primary Authority" partnership with the trading standards service.  A Primary Authority will liaise with other councils to ensure that inspection and enforcement action reflects the advice given. It can work with the business to produce a national inspection plan, giving guidelines to other councils to avoid unnecessary checks and tests

If you would like help with a legislative issue or would like to know more about setting up a Home Authority liaison agreement  or a Primary Authority partnership with Leicestershire Trading Standards Service, then please contact us on (0116) 305 8000. For more information about the Primary Authority Scheme, see the article below.

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The Local Better Regulation Office article re:-

The Primary Authority scheme will deliver the consistency in local regulation that businesses have long sought. It will ensure that any company trading across council boundaries can be guaranteed access to robust and reliable advice, provided through the creation of legal partnerships with local regulators. These can cover the full range of regulatory services or specific functions, such as health and safety, food safety or product labelling.

A primary authority will liaise with other councils to ensure that inspection and enforcement action reflects the advice given. It can work with its business to produce a national inspection plan, giving guidelines to other councils to avoid unnecessary checks and tests.

The scheme also provides a safety net to ensure that local authorities are consistent in the way they regulate. Before a local authority starts imposing sanctions it must check to see whether a company has acted in accordance with the advice given, reducing unwarranted legal action.

The question of resourcing the partnership is up to the business and council  concerned, allowing a primary authority to recover the costs of providing this premium service.

LBRO will register partnerships, provide guidance and help resolve any disputes – supporting the successful operation of this important initiative.

The scheme is scheduled to commence on 6 April 2009. Due to their highly developed existing voluntary agreements, we are seeking to work with the major UK retailers and their home and lead authorities to ensure that the procedures and associated guidance are robust, fit for purpose and capable of meeting changing needs in the years ahead.

Courtesy the Local Better Regulation Office, The Axis, 10 Holliday Street, Birmingham B1 1TG