Protecting Consumers &
Supporting Business
National Trading Standards (NTS) brings together Trading Standards services across England and Wales to combat serious consumer harm, disrupt criminal activity – including organised crime – and support legitimate businesses.
While most Trading Standards work is delivered locally by councils, some threats operate across regional and national boundaries. NTS was established by Government in 2012 to coordinate and deliver enforcement activity where a broader response is needed.
We lead intelligence-led investigations, tackle large-scale scams and fraud and coordinate national enforcement programmes that protect consumers and strengthen confidence in the marketplace.
Working with local authorities, law enforcement agencies, government departments and industry partners, we target those who cause the greatest harm to consumers and communities.
NTS operates across England and Wales. Estate agency regulation is delivered on a UK-wide basis. Separate arrangements are in place for Trading Standards services in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
How the NTS model works
NTS receives grants and funds from a range of Government Departments or Agencies to carry out critical Trading Standards priorities, which are then commissioned via NTS funded teams (hosted by local authorities), regional groups of local Trading Standards Services or individual local Trading Standards Services. The NTS Board sets priorities for this work and oversees performance and delivery of commissioned work alongside the provision of robust reporting and financial oversight.
Each local authority remains legally accountable for all the work carried out by their local Trading Standards Service and all enforcement decisions for specific matters, whether funded by NTS or not.
Our vision is a fair and safe marketplace where consumers are protected and legitimate businesses can thrive. We do this by stopping scams and illegal trading practices, supporting local Trading Standards Services, and working closely with law enforcement, regulators and industry. Through intelligence-led enforcement and prevention activity, NTS helps ensure that honest businesses are not undercut by rogue traders and that consumers are protected and can make informed choices with confidence.
We fund national teams that are hosted within local authorities. These include the eCrime, Regional Investigations, Estate Agency, Letting Agency, Intelligence and Scams Teams.
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To see the current priorities for National Trading Standards
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To see the key impacts NTS has had on the consumer protection landscape over the last 10 years
DOWNLOAD OUR NTS 10 YEAR IMPACT REPORT
The National Trading Standards Work Areas
National Trading Standards has teams overseeing a range of issues, from copycat websites to doorstep crime.
Latest Headlines
‘Poisoned’ AI models recommending scam websites to consumers
9th June 2026
Criminal network that laundered £331k sentenced following Trading Standards investigation
22nd May 2026
Property Agent Checker
Search our list of Estate and Letting agents, to check their registration with an approved independent redress scheme, to resolve disputes between agents and consumers.
