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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.

 

Opinion: TS's biggest fan

Posted: 15 January 2024

OPINION: Reflecting on more than two decades at CTSI, this personal perspective celebrates the achievements of the Trading Standards profession while highlighting the growing influence of policy work in raising consumer protection issues nationally.
 

Opinion: Fake it till you make it

Posted: 15 January 2024

OPINION: Artificial intelligence promises major benefits for Trading Standards, but it also raises difficult questions around privacy, bias, regulation and accountability that the profession cannot afford to ignore as adoption accelerates.
 

BVA calls for breeding regulation

Posted: 15 January 2024

UPDATES: Veterinary bodies are urging stronger regulation of dog breeding and canine fertility clinics, warning that legal loopholes enable poor animal welfare, criminal activity and unqualified practitioners to profit from growing consumer demand.
 

Wigan TS seizes illicit products

Posted: 08 January 2024

UPDATES: Wigan Trading Standards has removed more than £200,000 worth of illicit tobacco and vaping products from sale, with major seizures, shop enforcement and joint operations targeting persistent offenders across the borough.
 

Lengthy sentence for fake poster fraudster

Posted: 08 January 2024

UPDATES: Lancashire Trading Standards brought down a prolific counterfeit poster operation after uncovering industrial-scale printing equipment and thousands of copyrighted images. The investigation exposed more than £1 million in fraudulent sales and ended with a three-and-a-half year prison sentence.
 

Company fined for misuse of logos

Posted: 08 January 2024

UPDATES: A property maintenance director has been prosecuted after falsely displaying recognised trade accreditation logos and claiming membership of certification schemes. The case highlights how misleading endorsements can distort competition and undermine consumer confidence.
 

In conversation: John Herriman

Posted: 05 January 2024

OPINION: CTSI Chief Executive John Herriman reflects on steering the Institute through Brexit, Covid and years of shrinking resources, while setting out his ambitions for recruitment, training, political influence and raising the profile of Trading Standards.
 

Illicit tobacco haul in Tower Hamlets

Posted: 03 January 2024

UPDATES: Tower Hamlets Trading Standards uncovered a significant cache of illicit tobacco and oversized vapes hidden in secret compartments during pre-Christmas raids. The seizure forms part of wider efforts to disrupt organised criminal supply networks.
 

Staffs TS nabs illegal cigarettes & vapes

Posted: 03 January 2024

UPDATES: Staffordshire Trading Standards has intensified its crackdown on illegal tobacco and oversized vapes through national enforcement operations, with fresh seizures adding to a growing haul of illicit products removed from local businesses.
 

Warks TS seizes banned US candy

Posted: 22 December 2023

UPDATES: Warwickshire Trading Standards has removed imported American sweets and drinks containing additives banned in the UK, reinforcing warnings about non-compliant confectionery that continues to reach retailers despite potential health risks.
 

CTSI sounds alarm on council funding

Posted: 20 December 2023

UPDATES: CTSI is urging ministers to rethink local government funding proposals, warning that further financial pressure on councils could weaken already stretched Trading Standards services and leave consumers increasingly exposed to harm.
 

Obituary: James Williams

Posted: 18 December 2023

UPDATES: Friends and colleagues remember James Williams as a larger-than-life Trading Standards officer whose humour, determination and unforgettable exploits were matched by a lifelong commitment to protecting consumers and supporting the profession.
 

How is industry supporting TS?

Posted: 14 December 2023

SPONSORED: With Trading Standards teams under sustained financial pressure, this opinion piece examines how industry partnerships, intellectual property owners and collaborative enforcement can help fill resource gaps while supporting action against organised counterfeit crime.
 

CCHB marks five year milestone

Posted: 13 December 2023

UPDATES: The Consumer Code for Home Builders celebrates five years as a CTSI Approved Code after another successful audit, with independent reviewers and auditors recognising its commitment to continual improvement and stronger consumer protection.
 

Loft insulation scammers jailed

Posted: 13 December 2023

UPDATES: Herefordshire Trading Standards secured jail sentences for two men behind a spray foam loft insulation scam that targeted elderly homeowners through illegal cold calls, leaving victims facing inflated bills, restricted cancellation rights and homes that became difficult to sell.
 

Whisky investment ads misled

Posted: 01 December 2023

UPDATES: Authorities are warning consumers about misleading whisky investment promotions after the Advertising Standards Authority ruled that social media adverts overstated likely returns, downplayed risks and failed to explain charges attached to unregulated cask investments.
 

Pirate DVD seller ordered to pay up

Posted: 28 November 2023

UPDATES: A prolific counterfeit DVD seller has been ordered to repay more than £216,000 after a major Proceeds of Crime case uncovered an elaborate network of online accounts, bank accounts and storage units used to distribute fake goods and launder criminal profits.
 

Farmers guilty of cruelty offences

Posted: 28 November 2023

UPDATES: Staffordshire Trading Standards prosecuted two farmers after inspectors found sheep suffering in appalling conditions despite repeated advice and formal notices, leading to suspended prison sentences and significant costs orders for multiple animal welfare offences.
 

CTSI Hero Awards 2023

Posted: 28 November 2023

UPDATES: The CTSI Hero Awards celebrated outstanding achievements across the trading standards profession, recognising individuals and teams whose work has delivered exceptional consumer protection, innovation and public service during the past year.
 

Anti-scam toolkit for students launches

Posted: 21 November 2023

UPDATES: A new Student Scams Toolkit aims to help young people recognise the frauds most likely to target them, offering practical guidance on everything from rental and employment scams to online shopping and romance fraud before losses occur.