About CTSI

Founded in 1881, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) is one of the world’s longest-established organisations dedicated to the fields of Trading Standards and Consumer Protection. After 140 years of progress, we remain immensely proud of our close association with the Trading Standards profession and the vital work it continues to do – promoting fair business practices, tackling rogue traders and, ultimately, protecting UK consumers.

As the only professional membership body for Trading Standards professionals, we provide a range of services including qualifications, training, including Continuing Professional and Personal Development (CPPD), and we run a number of major events including our flagship Annual Conference.

Our broad membership represents Trading Standards and consumer protection professionals working in a range of sectors – including local authorities, businesses and not for profits. All our members are united in an ambition to protect consumers and help to achieve a level playing field for business.

Find out more about the scope of the work of the Trading Standards profession in our latest corporate film

Our Services

We also run a variety of services which aim to provide support, reassurance and advice for both businesses and consumers.

This includes the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS) which is open to all businesses to apply to join, and provides reassurance to customers that CCAS approved businesses have high standards of customer service and offer additional layers of protection for consumers.

For consumers we run the UK International Consumer Centre (UKICC), offering free advice and support to anyone who has bought goods or services from traders based outside of the UK. We also have a role in supporting mediation between consumers and businesses through our work supporting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

We publish a number of resources including Business Companion, which provides the very latest information for businesses who want to know about new developments in trading standards and consumer protection legislation.

Finally, CTSI is increasingly helping to shape and influence policies and to campaign for change in order to better protect consumers and safeguard honest business. We also aim to highlight the significant role the trading standards profession and consumer protection plays in supporting a healthy economy and contributing to success on a range of wider social and environmental issues.