FSA response to DTI consultation on Consumer and Trading Standards Agency

Thursday 3 November 2005

The Hampton Report, published in March 2005, focused on promoting more efficient approaches to regulatory inspection and enforcement without compromising regulatory standards or outcomes.

Its recommendations included proposals for forming new national thematic regulators that could change the balance between central and local enforcement agencies. One of the key recommendations was for the establishment of a new Consumer and Trading Standards Agency (CTSA).

It is envisaged that the CTSA would co-ordinate the work on consumer protection and the Trading Standards Service (although it would exclude the work of existing or new �thematic regulators� such as the Food Standards Agency, the Health and Safety Executive and the proposed new Animal Health Agency). The Department of Trade and Industry consulted on this proposal over the summer of 2005.

The FSA�s response to the DTI consultation was discussed by the FSA Board in its open meeting in September and a commitment was made to publish the final response on the FSA website. This is now published below alongside the minutes of the Board discussion and the relevant paper, attached to the meeting agenda.