Local authorities help businesses operating in the UK to comply with legislation by providing advice, guidance and information.
Businesses will generally build up a relationship with, and receive advice and information from, one particular local authority. This is usually the local authority where the business is based. In relation to trading standards and food safety matters, local government has developed a scheme where that authority is referred to as the Home Authority i.e. “the local authority where the relevant decision making base of a business is located.”
For example:
A trade association cannot set up a single home authority relationship for all of its members. Each member of a trade association has to develop its own relationship with the local authority where it is based.
The Home Authority Principle is therefore a scheme developed by local authorities to help businesses by providing contact points for advice and guidance in order to maintain high standards of public protection, encourage fair trade and develop a consistent approach to enforcement, and to help each other by reducing duplication of effort and improving communications.
When acting as a Home Authority a local authority may carry out a number of roles for businesses. For example:
Businesses in a Home Authority area should:
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