Voluntary scheme aims to stop the sale of corrosive substances to children

Medway Council is encouraging traders to sign up to a scheme to avoid selling corrosive substances, such as bleach and drain cleaner, to children.

The government has announced it will draft legislation to make age restrictions mandatory on these products, but Medway Council’s Trading Standards team is asking responsible retailers to voluntarily adopt a challenge 25 scheme now. Traders who sign up will ask customers who look under 25 for photographic ID, to prove they are over 18, if they need to buy products which contain corrosive substances.

A survey, conducted by the Trading Standards team, found that eight out of nine shops sampled sold products containing corrosive substances to a 16-year-old volunteer.

Cllr Jane Chitty, Portfolio Holder in charge of Trading Standards, said: “We are encouraging traders to sign up to the voluntary scheme to stop products that contain corrosive substances from being sold to under 18s. These substances can cause serious harm, so it is vital that retailers sell them responsibly. With support from our local shops we can work together to help prevent the misuse of these products.”

Retailers are asked to contact Medway Council’s Trading Standards team on 01634 333333 for more information about the scheme.