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Welcome to the Journal of Trading Standards online edition, JoTS Online. Browse through our latest Articles - including Analysis, Opinion Pieces, Features and a selection of articles from our acclaimed print journal.
Although many JoTS Online articles are open access (public), others are exclusive to CTSI Members - in which case, you'll need to login to access them. If you aren't a member of CTSI yet, you can join us here. And, if you'd like to contribute articles or suggest topics for us to cover, please email our Editorial Team.
Latest JoTS Online Articles :
News Category Tags: Crime, Product Safety, Health and Safety, Counterfeit Goods, Retail, Animal Health and Welfare, Legal and Policy, Enforcement Practice, Product Recalls, Property and Housing, Automotive, Vapes, Business, CTSI Conference, CTSI Hero Awards.
Puppy seller ordered to pay £100,000
Posted: 12 January 2022
UPDATES: An illegal puppy seller who misled buyers into believing he had bred the animals himself has been ordered to pay £100,000 after a Telford and Wrekin Council Trading Standards investigation uncovered poor record-keeping, misleading adverts and serious animal welfare concerns.
Obituary: Steve Lynch
Posted: 11 January 2022
UPDATES: Essex trading standards colleagues remember Steve Lynch, whose 42-year career spanned weights and measures, operational leadership, international regulatory work and major enforcement roles at the Olympics and Tour de France, alongside a warmth and humour that left a lasting mark on those who worked with him.
CPPD Module 21: Animal Feed
Posted: 11 January 2022
DEVELOPMENT: Animal feed and animal health controls sit within a demanding regulatory framework shaped by retained EU law, official control requirements and local authority competence. This CPPD module sets out the legal duties, qualification expectations, audit pressures and resource challenges facing officers responsible for protecting the agri-food chain.
Touchstone Award success stories
Posted: 06 January 2022
ANALYSIS: The 2021 Touchstone Award highlighted two strong examples of hallmarking enforcement: a Scotland-wide premises and online jewellery project coordinated by SCOTSS, and Hertfordshire’s work with Amazon to improve seller guidance and remove millions of inaccurate gold listings.
The Enterprise Act: A comedy of errors?
Posted: 06 January 2022
ANALYSIS: In July 2017, James Slater was trading as Response Roofing. He had a rather long history of fraud offences and was well known to trading standards across the South East of England, with 97...
The Enterprise Act: A political fix
Posted: 06 January 2022
OPINION: A response to criticism of the Enterprise Act argues that consumer protection still depends on making civil enforcement work, rebuilding consumer education and recognising the wider damage caused by weakened market intelligence.
In conversation: Yvonne Rees
Posted: 05 January 2022
OPINION: As Chief Executive of both Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council, Yvonne Rees is constantly performing a high-stakes balancing act. Responsible for large teams of people and departments across the...
Counterfeit clothing seller prosecuted
Posted: 27 December 2021
UPDATES: An online trader who sold counterfeit branded clothing has been found guilty of offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994 following an investigation by Dorset Council Trading Standards. James Goodwin was sentenced to 200...
£11,000 of illegal tobacco seized
Posted: 21 December 2021
UPDATES: A shopkeeper who continued to sell illegal and counterfeit tobacco products after his premises were raided by trading standards has been fined. Officers from Salford City Council Trading Standards found cigarettes and...
CTSI's pandemic puppy warning
Posted: 17 December 2021
UPDATES: Demand for a furry friend rises during the holiday season, and the isolation brought on by pandemic lockdowns and remote working has increased demand throughout the past year. These changes have led to puppy...
CTSI appoints new Chairs
Posted: 16 December 2021
UPDATES: CTSI has named Louise Baxter MBE as its new Council Chair and Steve Ruddy as Chair of its Board. Baxter is an expert in consumer protection who has worked in trading standards for almost...
UKICC marks 15 year milestone
Posted: 15 December 2021
UPDATES: As the UK International Consumer Centre marks 15 years, a special review looks back at its cross-border consumer work, unusual case history, post-EU Exit challenges and expanding international partnerships.
UKICC sounds alarm on travel contracts
Posted: 15 December 2021
UPDATES: As UK consumers pack their bags for Christmas and New Year get-aways, the UK International Consumer Centre (UKICC) is warning that many people are likely to be unaware of who their travel contract is...
Omicron sparks latest email scam
Posted: 15 December 2021
UPDATES: Members of the public have received an email clad in NHS branding as well as texts calling on them to "apply now for Omicron PCR test to avoid restrictions." The message claims that older...
Many SMEs unaware of new import rules
Posted: 15 December 2021
UPDATES: New research suggests many small importers remain unprepared for post-Brexit customs requirements. With full import controls taking effect from January 2022, the findings highlight significant awareness gaps and the practical challenges facing SMEs.
A step in the right direction
Posted: 08 December 2021
OPINION: Membership of an approved consumer code is only the starting point, argues the author, who explains why consistently applying high standards and embracing good customer service is what builds lasting consumer confidence.
Jeweller guilty of hallmarking offences
Posted: 03 December 2021
UPDATES: An investigation by Ealing Council Trading Standards resulted in a jeweller being prosecuted for hallmarking offences, underlining the importance of compliance and the protection that hallmarking provides for consumers.
COVID scam targets youngsters
Posted: 02 December 2021
UPDATES: A convincing text message scam exploiting COVID-19 vaccine passes targeted young people with a fake NHS website and payment request, providing a timely reminder of how fraudsters adapt to current events.
TS and EH join up to speak out
Posted: 30 November 2021
UPDATES: CTSI and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health joined forces at their Year Ahead Conference to present a shared message on the future of local regulatory services and the challenges facing both professions.
Illicit tobacco seized in North East Lincs
Posted: 24 November 2021
UPDATES: Trading Standards officers in North East Lincolnshire seized around 375,000 illicit cigarettes and 14.5kg of illegal tobacco worth almost £100,000 in a major enforcement operation. The haul highlights both the public safety risks posed by non-compliant tobacco products and the continuing success of Operation CeCe in tackling the illicit trade.
