Consumer Duty for Public Bodies

Our Commitment to the Consumer Scotland Act 2020
The Crofting Commission is recognised as a relevant public authority under the Consumer Scotland Act 2020. This means we have a statutory duty to consider the impact of our work on consumers and to ensure their interests are protected.

Our Responsibilities
To meet the requirements of the Act, we follow four key principles when carrying out our work:

Strategic Impact: We carefully consider how our high-level decisions affect consumers.
Reducing Harm: We aim to reduce any potential disadvantage or harm to consumers through our decision-making process.
Transparency: We publish information regarding the steps we take to meet these legal duties.
Following Guidance: We consult and follow the official guidance provided by Consumer Scotland.

How We Meet These Duties
During the 2025/26 period, the Crofting Commission has fully complied with the 2020 Act. We achieve this by conducting a formal impact assessment whenever our Board makes a strategic decision.

By including the ‘Consumer Duty’ as a standard consideration in our Board papers, we ensure that consumer outcomes remain a central part of our strategy. Our goal is to make decisions that are fair, transparent, and mindful of the people who rely on our services.