Walsall Council Trading Standards officers have removed unsafe and non-compliant products from sale during inspections of traders in Blakenall and Bloxwich.
On 28 October, Trading Standards officers joined the Blakenall Police Team for unannounced inspections as part of ‘Mischief Fortnight’, a period of increased enforcement aimed at preventing fireworks misuse ahead of Halloween, Bonfire Night and Diwali.
Officers checked fireworks on sale to ensure they carried the appropriate CE or UKCA safety marking and clear safety instructions in English.
The visits also uncovered out-of-date food products on sale, including products that had passed their use-by dates and jars with best-before dates of December 2024. All affected products were removed from sale.
Food must not be sold after its use-by date, as it may be unsafe to eat and pose a risk to public health. Food can also deteriorate in quality after its best-before date, so businesses must ensure it remains safe and of an acceptable quality.
During the visits, officers also identified non-compliant squishy toys, which were removed from sale. Testing of similar products previously seized by Walsall Trading Standards has identified potentially harmful chemicals, including benzene. Other products have been found to lack essential safety information or to be poorly manufactured, with some capable of splitting or bursting and exposing their contents.
Councillor Ian Benton, Portfolio Holder for Street Scene and Enforcement at Walsall Council, said, “Retailers have a responsibility to make sure the products they sell are safe and meet legal requirements.
"This is particularly important with fireworks ahead of seasonal celebrations, as unsafe products can have serious consequences.
“That responsibility extends to everything on shop shelves, from food to toys. Residents should be able to shop with confidence, knowing that the products they buy meet the required safety standards.
“Our officers will continue working with police and other partners to carry out inspections, remove unsafe and non-compliant goods from sale and take action against traders who fail to meet their legal responsibilities.”
The businesses found to be selling these unsafe goods will be subject to further enforcement visits and follow-up action where appropriate, with the seized items to be destroyed in due course. The businesses involved cannot be named while investigations are ongoing.
Residents who wish to report concerns about faulty or dangerous goods can contact Walsall Council’s Trading Standards team by emailing tradingstandards@walsall.gov.uk.
For advice on consumer protection issues, please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
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