CtSI HaS ItS SaY Some of the institutes contributions to government policy debate Air Travel Organisers Licence changes Bovine TB consultations Roadworthiness tests for historic vehicles Modernising consumer protection in the package travel sector Air Travel Organisers Licence changes Department for transport, November 2016 CTSI believes the scope of the Air Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL) should be aligned with the EU Package Travel Directive (PTD) 2015, so that ATOL protects eligible flight sales made by businesses that are established in the UK. Currently, it applies only to eligible flight sales made available in the UK. Alignment could allow ATOL businesses to trade across the EU without having to obtain different insolvency protection for non-UK sales. On the need to introduce a single register in which all package operators flight inclusive and non-flight inclusive have to record the insolvency protection they have in place, trading standards, ABTA and the Department for Transport agree that, if this option were pursued, itwould need to be a compulsory list, with penalties for noncompliance. CTSI would like total consumer transparency by including all flightonly sales under the ATOL regime. Having enforced the Package Travel Regulations 1992 for the past 26 years, trading standards officers realise that the internet and budget airlines have changed the face of holidays during that same period. CTSI feels there is definitely a need to strengthen the law, but unless there is a process of educating business, enforcers and consumers there will be confusion not certainty as people enter into one of their biggest financial outlays after house purchases. At the end of October 2016, a survey commissioned by ABTA found that the most popular reason for choosing a package holiday is having everything taken care of, which was selected by 73 per cent of respondents. Last years top reason best value option for price has slipped to second place, with 59 per cent. This has added to enforcement concerns that, unless there is a funded publicity campaign to clarify the issues for consumers, confusion will remain. Lead officer: Bruce Treloar For more details, and to contribute to consultations such as these, visit www.tradingstandards.uk Credits Images: infinity21 / Mike Charles / To share this page, in the toolbar click on You might also like CTSI has its say December 2016 Bikeworldtravel / Shutterstock Bovine TB consultations Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs, November 2016 1. a call for views on potential improvement and simplification of the tB testing regime in the high-risk area of England While agreeing with the proposals in this consultation, emphasis must be placed on ensuring compliance with the rules. Where a producer can demonstrate compliance, recognition ought to be given. Without compliance, the strategy for Britain will not be achieved. Effective liaison is needed at a local level between regulators such as the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), local authorities, industry and vets to promote and seek compliance. With increased flexibility for businesses to better plan their testing every 90 days, larger herds could have their test split over several days, extending the testing window. At a local level, consideration needs to begiven to ensuring the relevant veterinary risk assessment is as robust as possible. 2. tackling infection in pigs, sheep, goats, captive deer and South american camelids CTSI believes the duty to report suspicion of TB in live bovine animalsfor the veterinary risk to be assessed should be extended to allnon-bovine species. There should also be a duty on veterinary inspectors to carry out a veterinary inquiry on any premises where he or she has reason to believe there is a live, non-bovine animal or carcass affected by or suspected of being affected by TB In addition, the powers that require a keeper to have any animal tested for tuberculosis with a relevant test, by a specified date should be applied to all non-bovine species. 3. Enhanced bovine tB surveillance and controls in the high risk and edge areas of England CTSI agrees with the proposal for the wider use of interferon gamma testing in the high-risk area. While there is likely to be an increase in the number of positive tests from using interferon gamma testing, its increased use is proportionate to control the disease and will in the long term offer an economic benefit if the disease can be eradicated. Consideration should be given to other factors that may influence the length of time that a herd is under restriction with bovine tuberculosis. CTSI recognises that the local links between APHA offices and local authorities are less strong than in the past, a factor that needs to be considered in any control and eradication proposals. Lead officer: Stephanie Young For more details, and to contribute to consultations such as these, visit www.tradingstandards.uk Roadworthiness testing for vehicles of historic interest Department for transport, November 2016 All motor vehicles to be used on public roads including those of more than 40 years old should be tested annually. By their very nature, vintage and classic cars are fitted with very old technology that may be prone to unpredictable failure. Treatments for engine preservation and body corrosion are inferior compared to modern-day methods and current technologies. Although there are specialist garages that carry out restorations, this work may also be done by motoring enthusiasts who do not necessarily have any training or experience in vehicle mechanics. Classic vehicles will not be subjected to many of the aspects of the current MOT test because their design does not conform to modern standards and, most likely, do not have many of the safety features a modern car is fitted with. However, CTSI believes that from a safety point of view it is not in the general publics interest to allow such vehicles to be driven on public roads completely untested, as to do so could potentially lead to a serious accident, injury or death. Also, in a case of suspected mis-selling such as clocking the annual MOT is one of the best sources of information on a vehicle to verify claims made at the point of sale. There appear to be no burdens on business issues in implementing across-the-board testing. Most firms use modern vehicles and those that do not should provide a reasonably safe vehicle for use on public roads. Lead Officers: Gerald Taylor and Tim Milsom For more details, and to contribute to consultations such as these, visit www.tradingstandards.uk