ITL secures Primary Authority Partnership with Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards for age estimation technology

Innovative Technology (ITL) have confirmed a Primary Authority Partnership with Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards with regards to the use of their age estimation technology for retailers selling age restricted goods.

ITL’s biometric solutions, MyCheckr and MyCheckr ^Miniare designed to provide anonymous age estimation to assist the till operator in the vital decision-making step when they are required to determine a customer’s age.

John Vallis,  Senior Business Development Manager for ITL’s biometrics range said, “We are delighted to announce that we have secured a Primary Authority Partnership which will support retailers using our age estimation products, in the fight to prevent minors accessing alcohol, tobacco and vapes. This partnership essentially means that consumers can trust that our age estimation technology, if implemented appropriately into an age verification policy, and used in accordance with the guidance, is a compliant visual aid. It can be used to help ensure that the sale of age-restricted goods will not be made to persons under the age of 18.  This partnership signifies that  customers who choose to implement our age estimation technology, are actively demonstrating compliance, which is notably welcomed by responsible retailers.”

Primary Authority is a statutory scheme, established by the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008. It allows an eligible business to form a legally recognised partnership with a single local authority in relation to regulatory compliance. This local authority is then known as its ‘primary authority’.

Joanne Cook, Senior Trading Standards Officer commented, “This partnership provides ITL with an additional layer of reassurance and confidence for their customers, that their products meet legal requirements, supported by guidance from Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards.  We have checked the evidence of the standards that the technology has been tested to, as well as taking the opportunity to witness the operation of MyCheckr within a retail setting.   We are satisfied that it can be used to provide a visual guide to sales staff as to whether customers look age 25 or over and therefore assist retailers to comply with their legal obligations when selling age restricted products. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Innovative to provide any further advice needed in this crucial area of age restricted sales.”