Portsmouth Trading Standards Service

02/11/2026

FREE To***co and Vapes Act 2026 Training for Businesses.

Register now for training sessions with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) for any businesses that may be impacted by the To***co and Vapes Act.

Learn what offences could lead to a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN),
Ask the experts any questions you may have,
Get advice on measures you can take to prevent underage sales,
Understand what 'reasonable steps' your business should take if an issue is identified.

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Is your business ready for the To***co and Vapes Act 2026?

Our free webinar series has been designed to help businesses navigate the new requirements, prevent underage sales and reduce the risk of costly mistakes.

Whether you're an independent retailer or part of a larger business, you'll gain practical advice and resources designed to help you stay compliant with confidence.

Find out more and register: https://ow.ly/cxEX5102RwX

***coAndVapes

31/10/2026

👉 Some protection methods are better than others. Let us help protect you from Rogue traders.

You can find a local Buy With Confidence member by entering your postcode and searching a wide range of trade categories at: https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/

30/10/2026

⚠️ Please be aware of scams. Nobody should contact you asking you to claim the payment, so please be cautious about unexpected texts, emails or social media messages that don't come from Portsmouth City Council asking you to apply or supply personal or bank details, or to pay a fee. This is likely to be a scam.

ℹ️ £100 Household Energy Payment

The government has announced a new £100 Household Energy Payment to help with energy costs.

Households in England living in Council Tax bands A to D will be eligible, with payments starting from January 2027.

➡️ If you pay your Council Tax by Direct Debit, you don't need to do anything. If you're eligible, the £100 will be paid directly into your bank account.

➡️ If you do not pay by Direct Debit, further information about how eligible households will receive the payment will be provided, once we receive guidance from the government. We will publish details as soon as they become available.

We ask people not to contact us at this stage about the £100 payment, as we are unable to provide any additional information.

⚠️ Please be aware of scams. Nobody should contact you asking you to claim the payment, so please be cautious about unexpected texts, emails or social media messages that don't come from Portsmouth City Council asking you to apply or supply personal or bank details, or to pay a fee. This is likely to be a scam.

29/10/2026

🚨 NEW RULES ON VAPES & NI****NE PRODUCTS COME INTO FORCE TODAY 🚨

From today; 29 October 2026, new restrictions on the sale and promotion of vapes and ni****ne products are now in force across the UK under the To***co and Vapes Act 2026.

The changes include:
🔞 It is now illegal to sell ni****ne-free vapes and products such as ni****ne pouches, strips and pearls to under-18s.
🚫 Adults aged 18+ must not buy, or attempt to buy, va**ng or ni****ne products on behalf of someone under 18.
🎁 Promotional giveaways and substantial promotional discounts are prohibited.
🚫 Vending machines selling or dispensing vapes or ni****ne products are prohibited.

Trading Standards will lead retail enforcement in England, with new fixed penalty powers available to tackle non-compliant retailers.

👉 Read more about the new restrictions on GOV.UK -www.gov.uk/government/news/under-18-sales-ban-extended-to-ni****ne-products-and-all-vapes

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Government implements new restrictions on the sale and promotion of vapes and ni****ne products across the UK

28/10/2026

🎃 Stay safe this Halloween 👻

An investigation by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute revealed that over 90% of children's Halloween costumes purchased from third-party online marketplace sellers failed to meet UK product safety requirements.

Halloween costumes can be great fun, but a few simple precautions can help keep your little monsters safe:

🎃 Always buy from reputable retailers. If you do buy from an online marketplace then buy from a UK based seller.
👻 Check the packaging for a UKCA or CE mark, and for the name and address of a UK-based manufacturer or importer. Safety warnings should be present where required.
🧟‍♀️ Read all of the safety information, both on the label and in the online listing.
👾 Research the seller by checking reviews and ratings, and be wary of ‘too good to be true’ deals.
🧛‍♂️ Check the costume has not been recalled by visiting the Government website.
🔥 Keep costumes, wigs and capes well away from candles, fires and other naked flames.
📝 Report anything suspicious to the online marketplace, request a refund, and report it to Trading Standards.

Have a spooktacular, but safe, Halloween! 🎃👻

🔗 https://www.tradingstandards.uk/news-policy-campaigns/news-room/2026/over-90-of-halloween-costumes-sold-online-don-t-comply-with-uk-laws/

🔗 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/product-recalls-and-alerts

🔗 https://capt.org.uk/halloween/

Child Accident Prevention Trust

27/10/2026

🚨 Further Op Machinize inspections across Portsmouth 🚨

Portsmouth Trading Standards officers have continued their work as part of Operation Machinize with Portsmouth Police, carrying out further inspections at premises across the city, including Fratton, Copnor, Southsea, the City Centre, North End and Cosham.

The inspections resulted in multiple seizures, while officers also reviewed compliance with vapes, ni****ne pouches, other associated to***co products and measures to prevent underage sales.

Operation Machinize; the ongoing NCA-coordinated project to tackle money laundering and criminal use of cash-intensive high street businesses.

We will continue working with our partners and local businesses to tackle illegal trading and help ensure retailers understand and meet their legal responsibilities.

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26/10/2026

🚨 Safety alert issued for baby sleeping bags

The Office for Product Safety and Standards [OPSS] has issued a safety alert for certain baby sleeping bags because of the risk of overheating and suffocation. 👇

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/safety-alert-issued-for-baby-sleeping-bags

OPSS is advising parents and carers not to buy – and to stop using – any sleeping bag products that lack armholes or which include a hood for unsupervised baby sleep. Parents and carers who have these products should contact the business that supplied them as they may be entitled to redress.

A large number of sleeping bags have already been recalled. Take a look at the latest recalls and alerts here:

⚠ https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls

For further information please visit:

🔗 https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls/product-safety-alert-baby-sleeping-bags-psa9

Office for Product Safety and Standards

23/10/2026

👉 Need help from a business? How do you know which ones to trust?

You can find a local Buy With Confidence member by entering your postcode and searching a wide range of trade categories at: https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/

23/10/2026

💨As Storm Austen Blows In - Watch Out For Rogue Traders!

Storms present an opportunity for criminals to knock doors and offer to repair loose tiles, guttering and to fix fences. The price often starts off cheap but can quickly escalate.

If you need to find a reputable trader we recommend using a Buy With Confidence Trading Standards Approved trader. Check out the following link for a list of local traders that have been vetted and approved by Trading Standards Services.
🔗 https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/

Please share, watch out for family, friends and neighbours over the coming days and report any suspicious activity to us using our new webform:
🔗https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/services/environmental-health/trading-standards/contact-trading-standards

For consumer advice you can also contact the Citizens Advice consumer service:
🔗https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/information/contact-the-consumer-service/

Portsmouth Neighbourhood Watch

Please note: Portsmouth Trading Standards does not operate Buy With Confidence in Portsmouth. The scheme is operated locally by our colleagues in Hampshire County Council Trading Standards Service.

21/10/2026

🚨 Know the signs. Stay alert to fraud.

There are many different types of fraud, and criminals can use a range of methods to target people and businesses. The National Crime Agency (NCA) has information to help you understand more about different types of fraud including:
⚠️Romance fraud
⚠️Phishing fraud
⚠️Impersonation fraud
⚠️Investment fraud
⚠️Payment diversion fraud

📱 Watch a series of videos from the NCA to find out more using the link below.


National Crime Agency

https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/what-we-do/crime-threats/fraud-and-economic-crime/fraud-explained