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Journal of Trading Standards, Online Edition - JoTS Online

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.

 

Shop fined for selling illicit tobacco

Posted: 07 January 2025

UPDATES: Barking and Dagenham Trading Standards secured fines and costs of more than £5,000 after counterfeit tobacco was found at a Dagenham shop during an Operation CeCe inspection. The case reinforces the public health and consumer protection risks posed by illicit tobacco sales.
 

Rotherham TS releases vape figures

Posted: 07 January 2025

UPDATES: Rotherham Trading Standards and local police removed £563,000 worth of counterfeit vapes from shops during 2024, with some products found to contain harmful contaminants. The figures show the scale of illicit vape enforcement ahead of the disposable vapes ban coming into force in June 2025.
 

Illegal Fire stick seller jailed

Posted: 06 January 2025

UPDATES: A major investigation into the sale of illegally modified Fire TV sticks has ended with a prison sentence, highlighting the scale of copyright crime and the collaborative work behind a successful prosecution.
 

Dangerous goods intercepted at port

Posted: 06 January 2025

UPDATES: Trading Standards officers have intercepted unsafe imported goods before they reached consumers, underlining the importance of border enforcement in preventing hazardous products entering the UK market.
 

Opinion: A weigh-in a manger

Posted: 20 December 2024

OPINION: Seasonal traditions provide the backdrop for a thoughtful reflection on weights and measures, professional standards and the enduring relevance of Trading Standards work in everyday life.
 

Imported plastic steps fail safety tests

Posted: 19 December 2024

UPDATES: Safety testing has identified serious defects in imported plastic steps, prompting enforcement action and reinforcing the need for robust product compliance before goods reach consumers.
 

Flammable furniture removed from sale

Posted: 19 December 2024

UPDATES: Enforcement action has removed unsafe upholstered furniture from sale after fire safety concerns were identified, demonstrating how product regulation protects consumers from potentially life-threatening risks.
 

Almost 10,000 cigarettes seized

Posted: 18 December 2024

UPDATES: A significant seizure of illicit cigarettes has disrupted the illegal tobacco trade while highlighting the wider links between counterfeit goods, organised crime and consumer harm.
 

Home improvement fraudsters jailed

Posted: 18 December 2024

UPDATES: Rogue traders who targeted householders with fraudulent home improvement work have been jailed following a lengthy investigation, sending a strong deterrent message to offenders operating in the sector.
 

Celebrating the CTSI Hero Awards 2024

Posted: 12 December 2024

UPDATES: The CTSI Hero Awards recognise individuals and teams whose dedication, innovation and commitment have made an outstanding contribution to consumer protection and the Trading Standards profession.
 

Shop fined for vape sale to minor

Posted: 06 December 2024

UPDATES: A retailer has been fined after selling a vape to an underage customer, reinforcing the importance of age-restricted sales enforcement and retailer compliance.
 

Sniffer dog Boo scares illicit sellers

Posted: 06 December 2024

UPDATES: Specialist detection dog Boo continues to play a valuable role in uncovering illicit tobacco, demonstrating how innovative enforcement techniques are helping disrupt the illegal market.
 

American candy Christmas warning

Posted: 04 December 2024

UPDATES: Imported American sweets, snacks and fizzy drinks are under renewed scrutiny this Christmas, as CTSI warns parents and retailers about products with missing UK labelling, undeclared allergens and unauthorised additives found in high-street shops.
 

Knives illegally sold to under-18s

Posted: 03 December 2024

UPDATES: Lancashire test-purchase operations have exposed widespread illegal knife sales to under-18s, with young volunteers able to buy bladed items from more than a third of shops visited during Operation Sceptre.
 

Closure Order for illegal vape shop

Posted: 02 December 2024

UPDATES: Reading Trading Standards has secured a three-month Closure Order against a shop linked to years of illicit tobacco and vape sales, following repeated seizures, hidden stock discoveries and complaints about sales to children.
 

Illicit tobacco seller hit with hefty fine

Posted: 02 December 2024

UPDATES: A Dagenham shopkeeper and business have been fined after Barking and Dagenham Trading Standards found almost 2,000 illicit and counterfeit cigarettes hidden on the premises during Operation CeCe inspections.
 

NTS data: over a million vapes seized

Posted: 27 November 2024

UPDATES: New National Trading Standards figures show more than 1.19 million illegal vapes and 19 million illicit cigarettes were seized in England in 2023/24, underlining the scale of enforcement pressure on unsafe products and underage sales.
 

Profile: Can-do attitude

Posted: 26 November 2024

ANALYSIS: Kristina Hann’s Trading Standards career has taken in disability, discrimination, elite swimming, rogue trader investigations and life with assistance dog Louis. Her story is a sharp reminder that reasonable adjustments open doors, while low expectations close them.
 

Avoid the scammers this Black Friday

Posted: 25 November 2024

UPDATES: Worcestershire Trading Standards is urging Black Friday shoppers to stay alert to bogus websites, counterfeit goods and unsafe payment requests, while reminding consumers of their cancellation and refund rights when online bargains go wrong.
 

Wiltshire TS seize illegal goods

Posted: 25 November 2024

UPDATES: Wiltshire Trading Standards has seized counterfeit and unsafe tobacco and vape products from businesses in Chippenham, Devizes and Melksham, with prosecutions now being prepared after raids supported by Wiltshire Police.