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About CTSI


About CTSI

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.

Our CTSI Community

Our CTSI Community

CTSI is comprised of a diverse range of individuals, drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. Our CTSI Community is where we celebrate the people who make us what we are today.


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.


If you wish to Contact CTSI, please click here.

IMPORTANT : As a membership body, CTSI does not handle Consumer Complaints. Nor do we deal with disputes between consumers and businesses. Please check our Consumer Help page for more. Or call the Citizen's Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.


Anything But Standard


As the UK's only professional membership body for people working in Trading Standards, CTSI's 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. It is for this reason that we are, increasingly, helping to shape and influence government policy through our campaigning work 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. 

Our Anything But Standard film, touches on the scope of the work of the Trading Standards profession :


CTSI Products and Services


As a not-for-profit organisation, CTSI offers a variety of products and services, some of which help fund our work. They either provide direct help and advice for businesses and consumers, or support the important work of the Trading Standards profession.

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. In addition, we have an important role in supporting mediation between consumers and businesses through our Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) areas of work. We also publish a wide 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.

CTSI operates the government-backed Approved Code Scheme (ACS, formerly CCAS) - which aims to improve standards of customer care and customer service amongst businesses in the sectors covered by the scheme. Customers of member businesses are reassured that they will receive higher standards of customer service and have access to additional layers of consumer protection than those required by law.

Finally, we provide a wide range of products and services to support Trading Standards professionals. These include our prestigious Trading Standards focused Qualification-based Courses, a variety of Professional Training courses, and our Continuing Professional and Personal Development (CPPD). We also provide a number of information-based services for Local Authorities around the country, including the European Metrology Type Approvals Service, the Pattern Approvals Database Service (PADS), and a popular Recruitment Service for the Trading Standards sector, amongst others. In addition, we run a number of major events for the profession throughout the year - including our flagship Annual Conference and Hero Awards - and publish the respected Journal of Trading Standards


Vision, Mission and Strategy

Our Vision and Mission

Our Royal Charter

CTSI's Royal Charter

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Contact Us

Contact CTSI

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1 Sylvan Court Sylvan Way, Southfields Business Park, Basildon, Essex, SS15 6TH.
Company no. RC000879

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