Standards
Code of Professional Conduct
The Code of Professional Conduct sets out the ethical principles and professional obligations that all CRT members are expected to uphold. It applies alongside, not instead of, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements.
Application
This Code applies to all individuals holding CRT membership or certification. Organisations holding CRT Business Membership are expected to require their relevant personnel to comply with this Code and to maintain their own complementary internal conduct frameworks.
The Code does not alter or supersede any legal, regulatory or contractual obligations. Where conduct obligations in this Code conflict with applicable law, law prevails. CRT membership does not provide any exemption from legal requirements.
Core principles
- Integrity
- Act honestly and transparently in all professional dealings. Do not misrepresent your qualifications, the nature of any transaction, or your authority to act.
- Competence
- Only undertake activities within your competence. Acknowledge limitations. Maintain and develop your professional knowledge.
- Client interests
- Act in the genuine interests of those you represent or serve. Disclose and manage conflicts of interest fairly and transparently.
- Market conduct
- Conduct yourself in a manner that upholds the integrity of commodity markets. Do not participate in or facilitate fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative practices.
- Compliance
- Comply with applicable laws, regulations and sanctions. Cooperate with legitimate requests from regulatory and law enforcement authorities.
- Confidentiality
- Protect confidential information entrusted to you. Do not use confidential information for personal advantage or disclose it without proper authority.
Specific professional obligations
Counterparty dealings
Members must not misrepresent the nature, quality, quantity, origin or ownership of commodities, the validity of documentation, or their authority or capacity to act in any transaction.
Mandate and authority
Members must not represent themselves as having authority to act for a principal without genuine, documented authorisation. Mandates must be real, current and properly recorded.
Anti-money laundering and sanctions
Members must apply appropriate due diligence to counterparties and transactions consistent with applicable AML and sanctions requirements. Members must not knowingly facilitate transactions that breach sanctions or that involve the proceeds of crime.
Conflicts of interest
Members must identify and disclose material conflicts of interest to affected parties at the earliest opportunity. Where a conflict cannot be managed appropriately, the member must decline to act.
Continuing development
Members are expected to maintain their professional competence through continuing professional development. Specific CPD requirements will be set by the Standards Committee following establishment.
Enforcement
Breaches of this Code may result in: formal caution; suspension of membership or certification; revocation of membership or certification; publication of findings where warranted in the public interest.
The complaints and appeals procedure is described on the Complaints page. This procedure is in development and not yet operational.
Enforcement is proposed
- No enforcement action has been taken under this Code. The Code is in draft and the enforcement mechanism is not yet operational.
- CRT is a founding-stage initiative. This Code represents intended obligations, not currently enforceable requirements.
Document status
Draft — subject to consultation before finalisation
This is a draft Code of Conduct. It has not been through formal consultation or independent approval. Content is subject to change. Formal consultation will be announced through the Consultations section.
Last updated: June 2026
Change history
| Version | Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | June 2026 | Expanded obligations section; added enforcement provisions. |
| 0.1 | May 2026 | Initial draft — core principles only. |
Document information
- Version
- Version 0.2 (Draft)
- Effective date
- To be determined following consultation
- Last updated
- June 2026
- Responsible body
- CRT Standards Committee (proposed)
- Reference
- CRT-STD-0002