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As part of our commitment to continually improve our service and to help our clients meet their legal obligations, we continue to update the Legal Registers on our website and provide free quarterly legal compliance updates to anyone who subscribes. The purpose of these updates is to ensure you stay up to date with any changes in your legal compliance obligations, our updates can also be kept and can be used as evidence that your business is staying up to date with any changes in the legislation, this can be very helpful at audit time.
The Trade Descriptions Act 1968 was a piece of legislation enacted in the United Kingdom with the primary purpose of protecting consumers from false or misleading trade descriptions. Its key objectives were to ensure that goods and services were accurately described by traders and to prevent deceptive practices in the marketplace.
The Act aimed to promote fair trade practices by prohibiting false or misleading descriptions of goods and services. It sought to instill confidence in consumers, allowing them to make informed purchasing decisions based on accurate information.
Under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, it became illegal for traders to make false or misleading statements about goods and services they were offering. This included false advertising, misleading packaging, false claims about pricing or quality, and inaccurate statements regarding the composition or origin of products. The Act also required that any information provided about goods and services, including price, quantity, quality, and performance, be accurate.
The Act applied to a wide range of commercial activities, including the sale of goods, provision of services, and advertising. It covered businesses of all sizes, from small retailers to large corporations. Both manufacturers and retailers were subject to its provisions, ensuring that everyone involved in the supply chain adhered to truthful and accurate trade descriptions.
It's worth noting that the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 was superseded by the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 in the UK, which incorporated and expanded upon many of its provisions. These newer regulations provide even stronger protections for consumers against unfair trading practices.
The Trade Descriptions Act 1968 established specific requirements regarding the evidence needed to support claims made about goods and services. These requirements were put in place to ensure that traders provided accurate and truthful information to consumers. Here's a summary of the evidence requirements under the Act:
Overall, the evidence requirements of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 were designed to promote transparency and honesty in trade practices, safeguarding the interests of consumers and maintaining trust in the marketplace.
The Trade Descriptions Act 1968, while comprehensive in its scope, did include certain exemptions for specific types of trade practices. These exemptions were provided to accommodate certain industries or circumstances where strict adherence to the Act's provisions might not have been practical or necessary. Here are some common exemptions:
It's important to note that these exemptions were subject to specific conditions and limitations, and they didn't provide a blanket excuse for false or misleading trade descriptions. Additionally, while the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 was significant in its time, it has since been superseded by newer consumer protection legislation in the UK, such as the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. These newer regulations have further refined and expanded protections for consumers.
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Including our quarterly legal compliance updates that are a great resource for evidence for your ISO audits.
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