FCA Handbook

The FCA Handbook is a collection of publications containing the rules and guidance used to regulate firms. The Handbook sets out:

the requirements you need to comply with; and
the way the FCA does its job – the processes and procedures that the FCA will follow in their dealings with you.

The Handbook is divided into five main blocks of rules and guidance, called Standards. Each block is made up of different sourcebooks (which includes information on requirements for firms) or manuals (these also include information on FCA processes and procedures), which follow a common theme. Blocks are as follows:

High Level Standards
Business/Prudential Standards
Regulatory Processes
Redress/Compensation
Specialist sourcebooks

The table below identifies all the sourcebooks relating to general insurance selling and administration. This manual goes through each of the four blocks in more detail.

Block	Sourcebook or manual	What does it include?	Who is affected?
1	PRIN – Principles for Businesses	A set of general statements of the main regulatory obligations of your firm.	All the business
1	SYSC- Senior Management Arrangements, Systems and Controls	Rules and guidance on how key responsibilities for managing the business should be allocated amongst senior management and the systems and controls that should be in place. Includes key elements of the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR).	Senior Management Team, Certification staff under SMCR
1	COND – Threshold Conditions	The minimum standards your firm will need to meet to be authorised by FCA.	Senior Management
1	APER – Statements of Principle and Code of Practice for Approved Persons	A set of principles and illustrative code of practice for individuals performing a controlled function. From 9/12/2019 only applicable to Appointed Representatives	Anyone in an Appointed Representative who will be an Approved Person
1	COCON – Code of Conduct	Conduct Rules applicable under SMCR to: a) Senior Managers only b) All staff other than Ancillary staff	All the business
1	FIT – The Fit and Proper Test for Employees and Senior Personnel	Sets out the criteria which the FCA use and which Firms should follow to assess whether an individual is suitable to perform: a) A Senior Management Function under SMCF b) A Certification Function under SMCF c) A controlled function as an Appointed Representative	Anyone who will perform a Senior Management or Certification Function under SMCR or a Controlled Function at an Appointed Representative.
1	GEN – General Provisions	Three topics appear under general provisions: guidance on behaviour of authorised persons, general interpretation of the rules and payment of fees.	Approved persons and anyone needing to interpret the rules
2	MIPRU – Prudential Sourcebooks	The rules about the financial safeguards your firm needs to have in place.	Senior Management and Finance
2	CASS – Client Asset Sourcebook	Rules about handling client money.	Senior Management and Finance
2	ICOBS – Insurance Conduct of Business	Requirements relating to the firm’s processes of selling and administration of general insurance.	Everyone
2	PROD – Product Intervention and Governance	Respective responsibilities of Product manufacturers and distributors.	Senior Management involved in Product design and/or sales
2	TC – Training and Competence	The arrangements your firm will need to have in place to ensure staff are appropriately trained and competent for their role.	Senior Management and HR
3	DEPP – Decision Making and Penalties	The stages, processes and procedures involved with any enforcement action the FCA take against a firm or an Approved Person	Senior Management Finance and Legal
3	SUP – Supervision	What FCA does to ensure compliance is maintained including what information you need to report to FCA. Also includes key elements of the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR).	Senior Management
4	REDRESS – Dispute Resolution, Complaints	The procedures your firm will need to adopt to handle any complaints made by customers and the rules that apply to firms subject to the Financial Ombudsman Service.	Complaints and Compliance
4	COMP – Compensation	Information on the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.	Senior Management and Finance
4	COAF – Complaints against FCA	Details on how to make a complaint against FCA.	Senior Management
5	CONC – Consumer Credit	Details conduct of business rules in respect of Consumer Credit firms including credit broking	Everyone involved in consumer credit Activities