Business guidance

Retail & Consumer Goods

Alcohol licensing in Northern Ireland

How alcohol licensing works in Northern Ireland — court-granted licences, 5-year renewal, 13 licence categories, permitted hours, and the role of PSNI.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Alcohol licensing in Scotland

How alcohol licensing works in Scotland under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 — five licensing objectives, Licensing Boards, premises and personal licences, occasional licences, overprovision, and minimum unit pricing.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Alcohol licensing requirements

How to obtain a premises licence to sell alcohol in England and Wales, including application process, fees, designated premises supervisor requirements, and licensing objectives.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Allergen control systems and Natasha's Law

Implement comprehensive allergen management systems and comply with Natasha's Law PPDS labelling requirements.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Avoid selling counterfeit goods

Selling goods that carry a trade mark without the owner's permission is a criminal offence, with up to 10 years in prison, and Trading Standards can seize suspect stock. Buy only from authorised distributors or brand owners and check authenticity, because evidence of reasonable checks supports a due diligence defence.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Biocides and Pesticides Authorisation

Get HSE CRD authorisation for biocidal and pesticidal products.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Card surcharges, minimum spends and refusing cash

You cannot charge extra for payment by a consumer credit, debit or charge card, but you can refuse cash or set a minimum card spend. Tell customers about any limit before they buy.

Retail & Consumer Goods

CLP Chemical Classification and Labelling

Classify, label and package hazardous chemicals under GB CLP.

Retail & Consumer Goods

CLP labelling for candles and wax melts

Yes, once a sensitiser in the fragrance oil reaches its limit, you need a CLP hazard label or a short allergy statement. If no sensitiser reaches a limit, you must still check the finished product for other hazards before concluding that no CLP label is needed.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Comply with credit advertising rules

Every consumer credit advert must meet FCA rules. If it mentions an interest rate, including 0%, a payment amount, the number of payments or the cost of credit, you must also show the representative APR and other set information. Buy Now Pay Later is covered from 15 July 2026.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Deposit return points for drinks retailers

From 1 October 2027, supermarkets, grocers, convenience stores and newsagents in England and Northern Ireland must charge a 20p deposit on in-scope drinks and, unless exempt, run a return point. Apply to register with Exchange for Change before then; pubs and cafes charge the deposit on takeaway drinks only.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Electrical product safety compliance

If you make, import or sell electrical equipment rated between 50V and 1,000V AC or 75V and 1,500V DC for Great Britain, it must meet the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016. Keep technical documentation, issue a declaration of conformity and apply UKCA or CE marking.

Retail & Consumer Goods

EV Charging Infrastructure

Install EV chargepoints and access government grants.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Feed, animal transport and animal by-products in Scotland

What a Scottish feed merchant, livestock haulier, dealer, abattoir supplier or farm must do to register as a feed business with Food Standards Scotland, get a transporter authorisation for animal journeys, and collect and dispose of animal by-products and fallen stock. Scotland has its own regulations and its own enforcers for each.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Follow the Sunday trading rules

In England and Wales a shop with a relevant floor area over 280 square metres may open on Sunday for only six continuous hours between 10am and 6pm, and never on Easter Sunday or Christmas Day. Opening outside those hours is an offence carrying an unlimited fine.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Food business registration

Register your food business with your local authority before starting operations.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Food traceability, withdrawal, and recall

Maintain food traceability records using the one step back, one step forward principle, and follow the correct procedures if you need to withdraw or recall unsafe food.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Get a personal licence to sell alcohol in Scotland

How to obtain a Scottish personal licence under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, including the SCPLH qualification, Disclosure Scotland check, application process, fees, renewal, and refresher training requirements.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Get approved and pay duty as an alcohol producer

You must be approved by HMRC under the Alcohol Production Approval Scheme before you produce any alcohol, and then file monthly duty returns. Selling to other businesses needs AWRS approval, and selling on site needs a premises licence.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Get a street trading licence

In England and Wales you need your council's licence or consent to sell from a stall, van or pitch on a street, but only where the council has adopted the Schedule 4 street trading rules and designated that street. Trading without authority is an offence with a fine of up to £1,000.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Gift voucher expiry dates, refunds and VAT

Yes, if the term is fair, plain and shown before the customer buys. You need not give change from a part-used voucher unless your terms promise it.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Hallmarking rules for jewellery

Usually yes: silver you sell as silver needs a UK hallmark unless the piece is light enough to be exempt. You must also display the Dealer's Notice and keep nickel, cadmium and lead within the legal limits.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Handle animal by-products from your food business

Unsold meat, fish, dairy and egg products become animal by-products once you decide they are not for eating, and catering waste is controlled too. You must keep higher-risk items out of landfill and animal feed, never feed catering waste to farm animals, and move by-products with the right paperwork.

Retail & Consumer Goods

How doing business in Northern Ireland differs from Great Britain

Northern Ireland has its own laws and regulators for employment, equality, planning, health and safety and more, so GB businesses cannot assume the same rules apply. Employers with 11 or more staff there must also register with the Equality Commission and monitor their workforce.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Labelling and safety rules for selling food online

Comply with distance selling rules when selling food online, including providing mandatory food information before purchase, allergen labelling at two points, and maintaining safe delivery temperatures.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Late night refreshment licence

If you supply hot food or hot drink to the public between 11pm and 5am, including from takeaways, delivery services and mobile vans, you need authorisation under the Licensing Act 2003. It usually comes as part of a premises licence, which you can get for late night refreshment alone.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Licences for dog boarding, day care and other pet care work

Usually yes in England if you board dogs or cats or run dog day care: you need an animal activity licence from your council. Grooming and dog walking are outside the licensing scheme unless the service amounts to dog day care, but local licences, permits and dog limits can apply.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Martyn's Law for pubs, shops and venues

Martyn's Law applies to your pub, shop or venue only if you can reasonably expect 200 or more people there at the same time, staff included. The duties have not started and no start date has been set; the Security Industry Authority will enforce them.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Meet the HFSS promotion and placement rules

If your business has 50 or more employees and sells prepacked food in England, you cannot place less healthy food at checkouts, store entrances or aisle ends, or sell it on multibuy or 'free' offers. Restaurants are outside the placement and multibuy rules but cannot offer free refills of sugary drinks.

Retail & Consumer Goods

MHRA authorisation for medicines and medical devices

Making, distributing or selling medicines or medical devices in the UK needs MHRA authorisation. Medicines need a marketing authorisation for each product, manufacturers a manufacturer's licence and distributors a wholesale dealer licence, while device makers register their devices; since 1 January 2025, authorisations cover the whole UK.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Minimum unit pricing compliance for alcohol retailers

How to calculate and apply minimum unit pricing for alcohol sales in Scotland, including enforcement and penalties.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Offer Buy Now Pay Later at your checkout

You do not need FCA permission to offer Buy Now Pay Later at your checkout through a lender. Since 15 July 2026 the lender must be authorised and carries the FCA duties, but other credit you offer at checkout can still need a credit broking permission.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Plant passports for selling plants and seeds online

Usually yes, if you sell plants or listed seeds as a business online, by phone or by post, even to a home gardener. Selling in person to the public needs no passport.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Premises licence (alcohol)

To sell or supply alcohol in England or Wales, you need a premises licence from your council's licensing authority, and a Designated Premises Supervisor who holds a personal licence. The same licence can also cover regulated entertainment and hot food or drink served between 11pm and 5am.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Product standards and CE marking for the Northern Ireland market

Under the Windsor Framework, goods placed on the Northern Ireland market follow EU product rules, so products covered by EU harmonised rules need CE marking; UKCA marking alone is not valid there. Since 13 December 2024, the EU General Product Safety Regulation has also applied in Northern Ireland.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Register a food business in Wales

Every food business in Wales, from restaurants and market stalls to home bakers and online sellers, must register with its local authority at least 28 days before trading. Registration is free and cannot be refused, but failing to register is a criminal offence. The Food Hygiene (Wales) Regulations 2006 set the rules.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Register as an alcohol wholesaler (AWRS)

If you sell alcohol to other businesses, you must register under the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme (AWRS) with HMRC. Learn who needs to register, how to apply, and due diligence obligations.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Register as a waste carrier and move hazardous waste in Northern Ireland

To carry or broker waste in Northern Ireland you must register with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, even if you already hold a Great Britain registration. Hazardous waste must travel on a consignment note with an NIEA code, and most movements must be pre-notified.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Register as a waste carrier and move special waste in Scotland

If your business carries waste in Scotland, even its own, you must register with SEPA before you move it. Hazardous waste is called special waste in Scotland, and every load must travel on a consignment note that carries a SEPA code, with the paperwork kept for inspection.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Register for and pay the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM)

From 1 January 2027, if your business imports aluminium, cement, fertiliser, hydrogen, iron or steel goods, you must keep a record of each one and register with HMRC once their customs value passes the threshold. You then file returns and pay a charge based on the emissions embodied in the goods.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Rules for selling vapes, nicotine pouches and tobacco from 29 October 2026

From 29 October 2026 it is an offence to sell vapes or nicotine products to anyone under 18, including nicotine-free vapes and nicotine pouches. From 1 January 2027 you must not sell tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Run a hand car wash or mobile valeting business

England has no car wash licence, but a fixed site may need planning permission if opening it is a material change of use. You need your water company's consent before wash water reaches a sewer, and you must pay the minimum wage and check the right to work of everyone who works for you.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Run a petrol station or forecourt

To store and dispense petrol you need a petroleum storage certificate from your petroleum enforcement authority, and you must manage fire and explosion risks under health and safety law. You must also report fuel prices to the Fuel Finder scheme within 30 minutes of any change.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Run a vehicle repair garage or MOT station

Repairing and servicing vehicles is not licensed in itself, but MOT testing is: only DVSA-approved stations with authorised testers may carry it out. Garages also have specific duties around air-conditioning refrigerant (F-gas) and the hazardous waste they generate. MOT testing works differently in Northern Ireland, where it is run by the state.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Sell firearms, shotguns and air weapons

Dealing in firearms, shotguns or ammunition by way of trade requires registration as a firearms dealer with the police, a transaction register, secure premises, and certificate checks on every sale. Air weapons need a certificate check for Scottish buyers, and realistic imitation firearms carry their own restrictions.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Sell general sale medicines in your shop

You can sell general sale list medicines without a pharmacy if you occupy premises you can close to exclude the public and sell them in their unopened original packs. Painkillers have set pack size limits, and breaking the rules is an offence with a fine of up to £1,000.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Sell goods by weight or measure

If you sell goods by weight, volume or length, you must use metric units, weigh with equipment passed as fit for trade use, and label packaged goods with an accurate quantity. Packing to the average system means testing samples against the three packers' rules and keeping the records.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Sell homemade soap and skincare

Soap and skincare you make at home are cosmetic products, with no exemption for small makers. Before your first sale you need a Responsible Person, a signed safety report and, in Great Britain, an SCPN notification. Northern Ireland uses the EU CPNP system instead.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Selling energy drinks to under-16s

Yes, for now: no law in England sets a minimum age to buy energy drinks. The government plans to ban sales to under-16s from April 2027, but it has not made the rules yet.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Separate your business recycling and food waste in Scotland

Every business in Scotland must take reasonable steps to have glass, metals, plastics, paper and card collected separately from general waste. Most food businesses must separate food waste too, and outside rural areas food waste must be kept out of drains and sewers.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Store oil on your premises in Scotland

If you store oil at a business in Scotland, you must follow one of SEPA's general binding rules, and breaching it is a criminal offence. Most business storage falls under rule 28, which requires a sound container, secondary containment of 110% and overfill prevention.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Take on a short-term space for a pop-up shop

Before you trade from a pop-up in England, get a written agreement that settles whether you hold a lease or a licence and who pays business rates. Check your use fits the unit's planning class, and carry out a fire risk assessment if you control the space.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Tax and trading status for selling on Vinted, eBay or Etsy

Selling your own used things is usually tax-free, and a platform report to HMRC is not a tax bill. If you buy or make things to sell, you are likely to be trading and must register for Self Assessment when your total gross trading income from all trades and platforms exceeds £1,000 in a tax year.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Toy safety compliance in Great Britain

If you make, import or sell toys in Great Britain, they must meet the essential safety requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011, including limits on small parts and chemicals. Grade each toy for age, add the required warnings and apply UKCA or CE marking; breaches are criminal offences.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Using 'was' prices and countdown timers in a sale

Yes, if the higher price is one you genuinely charged recently. Fake countdown timers and false 'ends tonight' claims are banned, and the CMA can fine you directly.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Vaping Products Duty

From 1 October 2026, excise duty is charged on all vaping liquid made in or imported into the UK, whether or not it contains nicotine. You need HMRC approval before you produce vaping products or hold them in duty suspension, and every product must carry a duty stamp by 1 April 2027.

Retail & Consumer Goods

What to expect when trading standards visits your shop

A routine inspection needs written notice at least 2 working days ahead, but a test purchase or an officer watching you trade needs none. Obstructing an officer is an offence.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Wholesale distributor product-safety duties

As a distributor — rather than the manufacturer — your product-safety duties are lighter but real: act with due care so the goods you supply are safe, verify conformity marking and documentation, keep records to trace supply, and act on unsafe products. Specific product categories (chemicals, electrical goods, machinery, construction products, textiles, furniture, precious metals) add their own checks.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Wholesale licences for controlled and excise goods

You must be approved under the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme before you sell alcohol wholesale, and trading without the right authorisation carries criminal sanctions. Medicines wholesalers need a Wholesale Dealer's Licence, and tobacco wholesalers must join track-and-trace.

Tax & Finance

Check if you need to register for VAT

You must register for VAT when your taxable turnover passes the registration threshold in any rolling 12 months, or when you expect it to pass the threshold within the next 30 days alone. Under the first test, register within 30 days of the end of the month. Late registration brings penalties and backdated VAT.

Compliance & Legal

File your confirmation statement

File a confirmation statement every 12 months, within 14 days after your review period ends. Filing late is a criminal offence for the company and its officers.

Premises & Operations

Meet your business waste duty of care

Every business that produces, stores or disposes of waste has a duty of care under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and stays responsible after it hands the waste on. Use only registered waste carriers, complete waste transfer notes correctly, and follow the stricter rules for hazardous waste.

Compliance & Legal

Verify your identity for Companies House as a director or PSC

Yes, if you are an individual director or PSC of a UK company, or an individual director of an overseas company registered in the UK. Corporate directors and officers of corporate PSCs are not yet required to verify. The transition for existing directors and PSCs ends on 17 November 2026.