Explanatory note

Section 25 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 provides for the approval by the Secretary of State of a code of practice issued for the purpose of giving practical guidance with respect to the requirements of section 20 of the Act (which is concerned with misleading price indications) and promoting desirable practices in relation to the giving of price indications. A contravention of an approved code does not of itself give rise to civil or criminal liability but Section 25 of the Act provides that in proceedings for an offence under section 20(1) or (2) a contravention of a provision in an approved code may be relied on in relation to any matter for the purpose of showing that the person committed the offence or of negativing any defence and compliance with a provision in an approved code may be relied on in relation to any matter for the purpose of showing that the commission of the offence has not been established or that the person concerned has a defence.

This Order approves the code of practice issued by the Secretary of State for the above purposes in the form in which it appears in the Schedule to the Order.