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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.

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Surge in requests for consumer advice

Posted: 05 November 2018

UPDATES: UK ECC recorded a 51% rise in requests for help with complaints involving EU traders, showing the continuing importance of cross-border consumer advice as Brexit approached.
 

Make Halloween the right kind of scary

Posted: 25 October 2018

ANALYSIS: Halloween should be remembered for fun, not tragedy. Using the Claudia Winkleman costume fire as a stark example, this guide explains the clothing, flame and fireworks risks families should understand before celebrating.
 

How to enjoy a safe Bonfire Night

Posted: 25 October 2018

ANALYSIS: Bonfire Night can be enjoyed safely with the right precautions. From buying CE-marked fireworks to responsible use and storage, this practical guide explains how to reduce the risk of serious injuries.
 

UK ECC advice on Primera Air collapse

Posted: 03 October 2018

UPDATES: Following the collapse of Primera Air, the UK European Consumer Centre explains the different options available to affected passengers, including advice for stranded travellers and those with connected travel arrangements.
 

CTSI Brexit Think Tank report released

Posted: 05 September 2018

UPDATES: A CTSI Brexit Think Tank report warns that losing European consumer protection networks, alongside declining trading standards resources, could weaken enforcement, business confidence and consumer safeguards after EU withdrawal.
 

Illegal skin whitener seller jailed

Posted: 24 August 2018

UPDATES: Southwark's prosecution of a repeat seller of banned skin-lightening products has led to the first jail sentence of its kind, after online test purchases uncovered cosmetics containing dangerous levels of hydroquinone.
 

EU data roaming charges post-Brexit

Posted: 16 August 2018

ANALYSIS: Free EU data roaming had quickly become part of ordinary travel for UK consumers, but Brexit raised difficult questions over reciprocal network agreements, wholesale charges and whether existing protections could survive outside the Digital Single Market.
 

Safety & Standards strategy announced

Posted: 16 August 2018

ANALYSIS: The Office for Product Safety and Standards has set out its first strategy, promising stronger national incident response, better recall information, border support and closer work with local authorities, manufacturers and CTSI expertise.
 

Package holiday rules updated

Posted: 03 August 2018

UPDATES: New package travel rules extend consumer protection to holidays built through online linked bookings, giving travellers clearer rights on cancellation, insolvency, liability and repatriation when flights, accommodation or other services are combined.
 

Weeding out cowboy gardeners

Posted: 03 August 2018

UPDATES: Warwickshire residents are being urged to steer clear of rogue doorstep gardeners after reports of poor workmanship and illegal waste disposal. Practical advice explains how to identify reputable traders and avoid becoming the next victim.
 

Getting animated about scams

Posted: 01 August 2018

UPDATES: Halton Trading Standards has turned the proceeds of counterfeiters' crime into a series of animated films tackling scams, loan sharks and fake goods, using local partners to spread consumer protection messages to vulnerable residents.
 

Sharp rise in number helped by CCAS

Posted: 04 July 2018

UPDATES: The Consumer Codes Approval Scheme reports sharply rising consumer engagement, growing coverage across UK markets and millions of pounds in recovered compensation, underlining its expanding role in strengthening consumer confidence.
 

Worried consumers still need the UK ECC

Posted: 29 June 2018

ANALYSIS: As Brexit raised questions over future cross-border redress, the UK European Consumer Centre’s casework showed why European cooperation still mattered for consumers. From complex disputes with overseas traders to small claims, recalls and package travel, the Centre’s 16,000 cases a year underlined the risks of leaving shoppers without a practical route to help.
 

Safety & Standards: the road ahead

Posted: 13 May 2018

ANALYSIS: The creation of the Office for Product Safety and Standards marked a major shift in the UK's product safety landscape, but questions remain over recalls, enforcement powers and restoring public confidence after high-profile fires.
 

Detriment in the digital age

Posted: 12 May 2018

ANALYSIS: The Government's consumer markets Green Paper places digital platforms, data and online markets at the centre of reform, prompting trading standards to consider how local enforcement must evolve for the digital economy.
 

A blueprint for a better Brexit?

Posted: 12 May 2018

OPINION: Brexit, the consumer green paper and shifting political priorities created an uncertain moment for consumer protection. This piece assesses whether reform could strengthen enforcement or leave Trading Standards facing familiar pressures.
 

Matt Allwright: Product Safety

Posted: 15 January 2018

OPINION: Broadcaster Matt Allwright argues that decades of progress in product safety are being undermined by unsafe imports, weak enforcement and online marketplaces, calling for renewed action to protect consumers.
 

Care complaints system criticised

Posted: 10 December 2017

UPDATES: A Competition and Markets Authority study finds care home complaints systems are confusing, poorly signposted and deter complaints through fear of reprisals, prompting calls for stronger consumer protections and more effective routes to redress.
 

Matt Allwright: Subscription traps

Posted: 23 October 2017

OPINION: Matt Allwright reflects on the hidden cost of subscription renewals, automatic payments and information overload, arguing that consumers need clearer reminders if they are to avoid paying for services they no longer want.