You would be surprised how many give away their general location within their description.
"Two have already been taken down and waiting for the rest still." - Well done, I applaud you for that. I would note, although you probably know this, that confectionary does not fall under the same regulations.
I have reported several private food sellers over the last six months. None were removed so I have now given up reporting to eBay. Since I have reported my concerns of another private seller to the relevant authorities due to the potential health issues concerning an allergen I knew was in the product but not identified in their listing. A week later they were no longer selling on eBay.
"The other side of reporting them, is just because they have a private account, does not mean that they don't have the certifications in place. " - I agree; like 'private' business sellers they are playing the system and eBay's lack of enforcing their own policies.
"So that then leaves those sellers that want to make a couple of quid and it's really just a hobby. They are the ones that haven't even thought to check about food safety etc. But more than likely, the smallest issue." - On that I disagree. An example: Only a small residue of certain allergens (e.g. nuts) can be fatal to someone at the top end of susceptibility to nut allergy and whilst it is unlikely that such a person is unlikely to make that purchase themselves they can be introduced to it innocently through a third party.
The UK has some of the strictest food handling and hygiene controls in the world and ignorance of the rules and requirements should not be used as an excuse to 'do your own thing'; especially when, as in examples expressed on these boards, there is an easy solution to ensure that people can buy food safely in the knowledge, or otherwise, that they are purchasing from an approved food manufacturer.
