A joint venture between the UK Trades Confederation and Bedfordshire Trading Standards which approves local traders to other Trading Standards departments has been welcomed by the timber trade.
The two organisations set up the pilot scheme in July 2003 since when it has proved beneficial to both partners and Bedfordshire consumers.
The aim now is to promote the scheme to other Trading Standards departments and local authorities who want to set up approved trader schemes in their areas.
David Francis, a director of DHH (Timber Products) Ltd, said: “This is a very welcome move. One of the problems we have found in the past with trading standards is that they don’t liaise with each other.”
Malcolm Cowley, UK sales manager of Weyerhaeuser Europe Ltd, said: “If it gives trading standards departments a comfort factor that individual companies are bona fide and responsible suppliers of products then I suppose it has to be positive.”
He said further involvement of trading standards in the panel trade was to be welcomed.
