eBay have notified sellers that the UK Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), part of the Department of Business and Trade, is inviting UK businesses and online sellers to participate in a voluntary education and research project. This project is being run by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) and has three parts:
- An initial conversation with a Trading Standards Officer to discuss your approach to product procurement and your understanding of product safety and online trading requirements.
- Participation in free training workshops delivered by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) and online materials and guidance to supplement the learning.
- A final conversation between you and a Trading Standards Officer to establish the extent to which the training and guidance may have enhanced your capability on matters of consumer product safety and online trading.
The aim of the project is to establish whether, by providing free business support and training, the OPSS can improve the knowledge and understanding of product safety and associated issues among businesses that make consumer products available online. The results will determine whether the approach should be further explored and expanded.
The discussions with Trading Standards Officers will establish a baseline of your general knowledge and understanding and determine if you have benefitted from the offerings. Individual products or specific compliance-related issues will not be discussed.
Furthermore, the personal data or information you provide will not be reused for any other purposes and will not be shared with any commercial organisation.
The project is applicable to all businesses that sell products online in the UK – and participation is free and voluntary.
Should you wish to register your initial interest just complete this form.