Specialist retail licences and registrations

Guide summary

Check if your retail business needs a specialist licence or must follow extra rules. Most shops do not need a licence but must comply with general trading law. If you sell medicines, motor vehicles, second-hand goods, knives, or certain foods, you have extra legal duties. You must also check employees’ right to work and follow product safety and weighing rules.

Sell only General Sale List medicines, not Pharmacy or Prescription Only
Register as a motor dealer with HMRC if you sell vehicles
Check right to work for every employee before they start
Ensure all products are safe and keep supplier records
Use certified weighing equipment and show correct weights
Refuse knife sales to anyone under 18 – no home deliveries
Label pre-packed food with full ingredients and allergens
Get planning consent for illuminated or large signs
Pay business rates on your commercial property

Most retail businesses need no specific licence to trade. This guide covers specialist licences required only if you sell specific regulated products or trade in particular ways.

For general retail compliance (consumer rights, age verification, VAT, PAYE), see our Start a retail business journey.

Activities not requiring a specific licence

Many retail activities do not require a specialist licence, though you must still comply with general trading law:

No Licence Required (retail sale)

No Licence Required (retail sale) - Sale of general sale list (GSL) medicines

Regulator: Mhra
Typical fee: None
Frequency: ongoing
Legal basis: Human Medicines Regulations 2012

General retailers (supermarkets, etc.) can sell General Sale List medicines without pharmacy registration. Includes common medicines like paracetamol, aspirin, antacids. Must be sold in manufacturer's original packaging. Pack size limits apply — paracetamol may only be sold in packs of up to 16 tablets by general retailers (packs of up to 32 are Pharmacy medicines), and you should not sell more than 100 tablets in one transaction. Must display away from baby food. Cannot sell Pharmacy (P) or Prescription Only (POM) medicines.

No Licence Required (consumer protection compliance)

No Licence Required (consumer protection compliance) - Sale of motor vehicles (as business)

Regulator: Local Authority
Typical fee: None
Frequency: ongoing
Legal basis: Consumer Rights Act 2015; Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (unfair commercial practices)

No specific licence to sell motor vehicles. Must comply with consumer rights (vehicles of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, as described). Must provide written information about key features. 30-day refund right for faulty vehicles. Must not misrepresent mileage, history, condition. Trading Standards enforce. Register with HMRC as motor dealer for VAT margin scheme.

No Specific Licence Required (trading standards compliance)

No Specific Licence Required (trading standards compliance) - Sale of second-hand goods (not motor vehicles)

Regulator: Local Authority
Typical fee: None
Frequency: ongoing
Legal basis: Consumer Rights Act 2015; Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (unfair commercial practices)

No specific licence for second-hand goods. Must comply with consumer rights legislation. Goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, as described. Refund rights differ for new vs second-hand goods. Must not mislead about condition. Charity shops have some exemptions. Register as business with HMRC for tax purposes. May need scrap metal dealer licence if buying scrap metal.

Right to Work Checks (no licence required)

Right to Work Checks (no licence required) - Employing staff (right to work)

Regulator: Home Office
Typical fee: None
Frequency: per employee
Legal basis: Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006

Not a licence but mandatory checks before employing anyone. Three routes — use the Home Office online checking service (share code; mandatory for most foreign nationals, whose status is now held as an eVisa — biometric residence permits expired 31 December 2024 and a manual BRP check gives no statutory excuse); a manual check of original documents from the approved lists (mainly British and Irish citizens); or a digital identity check via a certified IDSP for valid British or Irish passports. Conduct follow-up checks for time-limited permission. Employers with compliant checks have a statutory excuse against the civil penalty (up to £45,000 per illegal worker for a first breach, £60,000 for repeat breaches).

Product Safety Notification (no licence required)

Product Safety Notification (no licence required) - Sale of specific goods (cosmetics, toys, electrical)

Regulator: Office for Product Safety and Standards
Typical fee: None
Frequency: ongoing
Legal basis: General Product Safety Regulations 2005; Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 (enabling powers)

No licence but mandatory compliance. Retailers must only sell safe products that comply with UK regulations. Must conduct due diligence. Keep records of suppliers. Report dangerous products to Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). CE/UKCA marking required for many products. Test reports may be required.

Weights and Measures Compliance (no licence required)

Weights and Measures Compliance (no licence required) - Retail sale of goods (weights and measures)

Regulator: Local Authority
Typical fee: None
Frequency: ongoing
Legal basis: Weights and Measures Act 1985

No licence required but mandatory compliance. Must use accurate, certified weighing/measuring equipment. Packaged goods must show correct weight/volume. Trading Standards conduct inspections and test purchases. Equipment must be stamped and verified by approved verifier. Keep calibration certificates.

Age Verification Scheme (no licence required)

Age Verification Scheme (no licence required) - Sale of knives and bladed articles

Regulator: Local Authority
Typical fee: None
Frequency: ongoing
Legal basis: Criminal Justice Act 1988; Offensive Weapons Act 2019

No licence required but strict age verification mandatory. Cannot sell knives or bladed articles to anyone under 18. Retailers must operate robust age verification scheme. If you sell remotely (online, phone or mail order), the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 prohibits delivering bladed products to residential premises or lockers — age verification at the door does not make such a delivery lawful. Use collection points or business addresses, and verify age on handover. Trading Standards enforce through test purchases and prosecutions.

Natasha's Law Compliance (allergen information)

Natasha's Law Compliance (allergen information) - Sale of loose/unwrapped food

Regulator: Food Standards Agency
Typical fee: None
Frequency: ongoing
Legal basis: Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019

Not a licence but mandatory compliance. Since October 2021, all pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) food must display full ingredients list and allergen information on label. Applies to food packed on premises where sold or for direct sale. Staff must have allergen training. FSA provides free resources.

Advertisement Consent

Advertisement Consent - Display of external signage

Regulator: Local Authority
Typical fee: £174 (England, from 1 April 2026; planning fees are indexed each April)
Timeline: 8 weeks
Frequency: one time
Legal basis: Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007

Some signs have deemed consent (e.g., small shop fascias, window displays). Illuminated signs, large signs, flags, banners often require consent. Conservation areas have stricter rules. Check local authority planning guidance. Listed buildings require listed building consent for any external changes.

Automatic Enrolment Registration

Automatic Enrolment Registration - Employing staff (pension obligations)

Regulator: Pensions Regulator
Typical fee: None (registration is free)
Timeline: Complete duties within 5 months of your duties start date
Frequency: one time
Legal basis: Pensions Act 2008; Automatic Enrolment Regulations 2010

All employers must enrol eligible workers (aged 22 to State Pension age, earning £10,000+) into a workplace pension. Set up a pension scheme from your duties start date (when your first member of staff starts work). Minimum contributions: 8% total (3% employer, 5% employee). Submit your declaration of compliance to The Pensions Regulator within 5 months. Re-enrol leavers every 3 years. Penalties: £400 fixed penalty, then escalating daily penalties of £50-£10,000 per day by employer size.

Packaging Waste Registration

Packaging Waste Registration - Packaging of goods over threshold

Regulator: Environment Agency
Typical fee: £1,000-£3,000+ annually (via compliance scheme)
Timeline: Register if over threshold before reporting deadline
Frequency: annual
Legal basis: Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 (the 2007 Regulations were revoked on 1 January 2026)

This is the large-producer tier of packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR). Required if your business has turnover of £2 million or more AND handles more than 50 tonnes of packaging annually. Covers manufacturers, converters, importers, sellers/distributors. Must register, report packaging data twice yearly, pay disposal (base) fees — first invoiced by PackUK from October 2025 — and meet recycling obligations evidenced through Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs), which continue under the 2024 Regulations. The old 2007 Regulations were revoked on 1 January 2026.

National Lottery Terminal Agreement

National Lottery Terminal Agreement - Sale of lottery tickets

Regulator: Gambling Commission (operator: Allwyn)
Typical fee: None (revenue commission basis)
Timeline: 2-4 weeks for application and installation
Frequency: ongoing
Legal basis: National Lottery Act 1993

No licence but contractual agreement with National Lottery operator (currently Allwyn from 2024). Apply online to become retail partner. Must meet criteria (suitable premises, no association with gambling harm). Terminal provided free. Receive ~5% commission on ticket sales. Must follow operator's code of practice and age verification (18+).

Tobacco and nicotine product registration

Whether you must register before selling tobacco or nicotine products depends on the nation. England currently has no retailer register (a licensing scheme is expected under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026); Scotland and Northern Ireland operate free, one-off national registers you must join before selling; Wales's planned register was never brought into force.

Tobacco and Vape Retailer Registration (by nation)

Whether you must register before selling tobacco or nicotine inhaling products depends on the nation. England currently has no retailer register; Scotland and Northern Ireland operate free, one-off national registers; Wales's planned register was never brought into force. A UK-wide retail licensing scheme is expected under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 once regulations are made.

England: No retailer registration or licence currently required. A retail licensing scheme (local authorities issuing, Trading Standards enforcing) is expected under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 once regulations are made — monitor GOV.UK.
Scotland: Must be on the Scottish Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Product Retailers register before selling (Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010). Free, one-off — keep your details up to date.
Wales: No operational register — the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 register provisions were never commenced. Wales is expected to use the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 licensing scheme.
Northern Ireland: Must register on the Tobacco Retailers Register (Tobacco Retailers Act (Northern Ireland) 2014) before selling. Free, one-off.
Typical fee: Free (Scotland and Northern Ireland registers)
Enforcement: Trading Standards (councils); Environmental Health (Northern Ireland)

There is currently no tobacco or vape retailer register in England. In Scotland you must be on the national retailer register before selling tobacco or nicotine vapour products; in Northern Ireland you must be on the Tobacco Retailers Register. Both are free, one-off registrations. Wales has no operational register — its planned register was never brought into force. The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 provides for a retail licensing scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, to be introduced by regulations — check GOV.UK for commencement before relying on the current position.

Fireworks licence

A licence is required to sell fireworks year-round. No licence needed if you only sell during traditional periods (Guy Fawkes, New Year, Diwali, Chinese New Year).

Fireworks Licence

Fireworks Licence - Sale of fireworks

Regulator: Local Authority
Typical fee: £500 per annual licence period
Timeline: 6 weeks
Frequency: annual
Legal basis: Fireworks Regulations 2004, regulation 9 (Great Britain)

Required for year-round sale of fireworks to the public in Great Britain. Not needed if only selling fireworks during the traditional periods (15 October to 10 November, 26 to 31 December, the day of Chinese New Year and the 3 days immediately before it, and the day of Diwali and the 3 days immediately before it). Even during traditional periods you still need registration or licensing to store fireworks under the Explosives Regulations 2014. Northern Ireland has a separate fireworks licensing regime.

Pet shop licence (Animal Activities)

Selling animals as pets requires an Animal Activities Licence from your local authority. You'll be inspected and rated.

Animal Activities Licence (Selling Animals as Pets)

Animal Activities Licence (Selling Animals as Pets) - Sale of animals (pet shops)

Regulator: Local Authority
Typical fee: £100-£500 (varies by authority)
Timeline: 6-8 weeks
Frequency: Licence may be granted for 1, 2 or 3 years as the local authority considers appropriate
Legal basis: Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018

Required for selling animals as pets (including online sales). Covers pet shops, breeders selling direct, commercial dog breeders. Must meet welfare standards and be inspected. The local authority may grant a licence for 1, 2 or 3 years where it considers that period appropriate, taking account of the statutory framework and current Secretary of State guidance. Separate regulations in Scotland, Wales, NI.

Scrap metal dealer licence

Buying scrap metal for resale requires a licence. Cash payments for scrap metal are illegal.

Scrap Metal Dealer Licence

Scrap Metal Dealer Licence - Buying scrap metal for resale

Regulator: Local Authority
Typical fee: £500-£600 (site licence) or £300-£400 (collector licence)
Timeline: 6-8 weeks
Frequency: triennial
Legal basis: Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013

Required for anyone carrying on business as scrap metal dealer. Site licence for fixed location (e.g., yard, shop). Collector licence for mobile collectors. Must verify seller identity and keep detailed records. Cannot pay cash for scrap metal (cheque or electronic payment only). Licence valid 3 years. Local authority conducts suitability checks.

Market stalls and street trading

Trading from markets or public areas requires permission from your local authority or market operator.

Market Stall Licence / Pitch Application

Market Stall Licence / Pitch Application - Market trading (from market stall)

Regulator: Local Authority
Typical fee: £10-£50 per day or £500-£2,000 per year
Timeline: Immediate to 4 weeks depending on market
Frequency: daily weekly annual
Legal basis: Local authority market regulations

Requirements vary by market operator (council or private). May need casual trader permit or permanent pitch licence. Most markets require public liability insurance (minimum £5 million). Food traders need food hygiene certificate and registration. Check specific market terms and conditions.

Food Business Registration + Street Trading Licence

Food Business Registration + Street Trading Licence - Mobile food retail (van/trailer)

Regulator: Local Authority
Typical fee: Free (food registration) + £100-£1,000+ (street trading)
Timeline: 28 days (food registration) + 4-8 weeks (street trading)
Frequency: one time plus annual
Legal basis: Food Safety Act 1990; Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982

Requires both food business registration with Environmental Health (free, 28 days notice) and street trading licence from each local authority area where operating. Vehicle must meet food hygiene standards. Regular inspections by Environmental Health. Get Food Hygiene Rating. May need temporary event notices for private land events.

Environmental registrations for retailers

Retailers importing electrical equipment or handling significant packaging may need environmental registrations.

WEEE Producer Registration

WEEE Producer Registration - Sale of electronic equipment

Regulator: Environment Agency
Typical fee: £2,000-£4,000+ annually (via compliance scheme)
Timeline: Register before placing EEE on market
Frequency: annual
Legal basis: Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013

Required if placing Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) on UK market for first time. Must register with Environment Agency and join approved compliance scheme. Scheme handles collection and recycling obligations. Must report tonnage annually. Household WEEE categories: large/small appliances, IT/telecoms, consumer equipment, lighting, electrical tools, toys, medical devices — plus, from the 2025 amendments, a separate vapes and e-cigarettes category. Since 12 August 2025 online marketplaces are responsible for producer obligations on EEE supplied through them by non-UK sellers.

EPR for Packaging Registration

EPR for Packaging Registration - Extended Producer Responsibility (from 2025)

Regulator: Environment Agency
Typical fee: Variable fees based on packaging tonnage and recyclability
Timeline: Registration by 1 April each reporting year
Frequency: annual
Legal basis: Environment Act 2021; Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) applies from 1 January 2025 under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024. All businesses supplying packaged goods to the UK market must register if turnover is over £1 million and they handle more than 25 tonnes of packaging. Small producers (turnover £1m-£2m and over 25 tonnes, or over £1m and 25-50 tonnes) register and report data only. Large producers (£2m or more AND over 50 tonnes) also pay disposal fees — first invoiced by PackUK from October 2025, modulated by recyclability — and meet recycling obligations through PRNs, which continue under the 2024 Regulations. Report via the online system.

Legal basis

Primary legislation and key regulations

Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 Primary 2013 · UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 Primary 2026 · UK-wide Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 Primary 2025 · UK-wide DMCCA 2024 Primary 2024 · united_kingdom Environment Act 2021 (enhancement) Primary 2021 · UK-wide Offensive Weapons Act 2019 Primary 2019 · UK-wide Consumer Rights Act 2015 Primary 2015 · UK-wide Immigration Act 2014 Primary 2014 · UK-wide Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 Primary 2010 · Scotland Pensions Act 2008 Primary 2008 · UK-wide Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 Primary 2006 · UK-wide National Lottery Act 1993 Primary 1993 · UK-wide Food Safety Act 1990 Primary 1990 · UK-wide Criminal Justice Act 1988 Primary 1988 · UK-wide Weights and Measures Act 1985 Primary 1985 · UK-wide LGMPA 1982 Primary 1982 · UK-wide Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 SI 2018 · England Fireworks Regulations 2004 SI 2004 · UK-wide Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment, etc.) Regulations 2025 SI 2025 · UK-wide The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 SI 2024 · UK-wide Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019 SI 2019 · England Explosives Regulations 2014 SI 2014 · UK-wide Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 SI 2013 · UK-wide Human Medicines Regulations 2012 SI 2012 · UK-wide Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Automatic Enrolment) Regulations 2010 SI 2010 · UK-wide General Product Safety Regulations 2005 SI 2005 · UK-wide Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 Other 2017 · Wales Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 (Food hygiene) EU Retained 2004 · UK-wide

Browse UK legislation legislation.gov.uk

Official guidance

Apply for approval as a WEEE Producer Compliance Scheme (opens in a new tab)

DEFRA

Buying and carrying knives: the law (opens in a new tab)

Home Office

EEE covered by the WEEE regulations (opens in a new tab)

Publication · Environment Agency

EEE producer responsibility (opens in a new tab)

Environment Agency

WEEE regulations guidance (opens in a new tab)

OPSS

General Product Safety Regulations 2005 - detailed guidance (opens in a new tab)

Publication · OPSS

Specialist retail licences and registrations

Activities not requiring a specific licence

Tobacco and nicotine product registration

Fireworks licence

Pet shop licence (Animal Activities)

Scrap metal dealer licence

Market stalls and street trading

Environmental registrations for retailers

Legal basis

Official guidance

Related guides in Product Safety

Environmental obligations for retailers

Set up equestrian or livery services on your farm

Which motor trade rules apply to your business

Run a vehicle dismantler or salvage business

Ensure product safety compliance for retailers