The Care Standards Act 2000 are the Regulations and Standards set up to promote improvement in the quality of healthcare in England & Wales. The Act sets out a broad range of Regulation-making powers covering, amongst other matters, the management, staff, premises and conduct of social and healthcare establishments.

The Regulations & Standards are published by the Secretary of State for Health, in accordance with section 23 of the Care Standards Act 2000. Section 23 gives power to the Secretary of State to publish statements of National Minimum Standards that the Healthcare Commission must take into account when making it's decisions.