Licences and permits
The permissions a business needs before it can trade, each one tied to the law that creates it and to the body that issues it. We point at GOV.UK for fees and forms, and never copy them.
25 of 426 licences for Agriculture: crops and plants
Choose from all 48 activities
A
Abstract water (England)
If you abstract water or plan to, you may need to apply for an abstraction licence.
Environment Agency · England
Aerial application certificate for dropping material from an aircraft or drone (agriculture, horticulture, forestry)
You need an aerial application certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to drop articles from an aircraft for agriculture, horticulture or forestry: apply …
CAA · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Aerial application of plant protection products: permission to spray from an aircraft or drone
You must get an aerial spraying permit from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) before you apply a plant protection product from an aircraft, …
HSE · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Approval of assembly centres (Northern Ireland)
To operate an assembly centre in Northern Ireland where cattle, pigs, sheep or goats are grouped together to be used in the course of …
Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland
Authorisations to impound water (Scotland)
You must apply for an authorisation from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to build a dam or weir in Scotland.
Scottish Government · Scotland
F
Feed mills or on-farm mixing of feed containing restricted proteins (Northern Ireland)
You must be authorised to operate a mobile feed mixer that uses restricted proteins for non-ruminant feed production in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland
Flood risk activities (England)
You may need an environmental permit to do work in or by a main river, flood defence structure or sea defence, or in a …
Environment Agency · England
Food irradiation licence (Northern Ireland)
You must be licensed by the Food Standards Agency to irradiate food in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland
G
GMO release consent for research and development (Scotland)
If you wish to release genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment in Scotland for research and development purposes, you must obtain consent from …
Scottish Government · Scotland
Goods vehicle operator licences
You need a goods vehicle operator’s licence if your business uses a goods vehicle with either a gross plated weight (the maximum weight that …
Traffic Commissioners · England, Wales and Scotland
H
Hazardous waste movement notice (Northern Ireland)
You need to pre-notify the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) 72 hours in advance if you want to move hazardous waste
Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland
Heather and grass burning licence (Wales)
You need a licence to burn heather, rough grass, bracken, gorse or vaccinium outside the burning season in Wales
Your council · Wales
I
L
P
Pesticide approval
You need approval from the Heath and Safety Executive (HSE) Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) to sell, distribute or store new pesticides in the UK
HSE · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Protected species licensing (Scotland)
For activities involving protected species which would otherwise be against the law, you may be able to apply for a licence from Scottish Natural …
Scottish Government · Scotland
R
S
Seed potato crop register (Northern Ireland)
You must register your potato seed crop in Northern Ireland with DAERA
Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland
Seed potato import notification (Northern Ireland)
You must notify DAERA if you intend to import seed potatoes into Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland
Silos, slurry or agricultural fuel oil storage systems notification (Northern Ireland)
You must notify NIEA of changes to silos, slurry storage and agricultural fuel oil storage systems
Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland
U
W
Water abstraction authorisation (Scotland)
You need an EASR authorisation to abstract water from natural water sources in Scotland
Scottish Government · Scotland
Weighbridge operator certificate
Contact your council for a certificate of competence to operate a chargeable weighbridge
Your council · England, Wales and Scotland
Weighbridge operator's certificate (Northern Ireland)
You need a certificate of competence to operate a public weighbridge for which a charge is made in Northern Ireland
Your council · Northern Ireland
Wildlife licence (Northern Ireland)
You must get a licence before you can take, kill or disturb wild birds and animals in Northern Ireland - fees, restrictions, fines, penalties
Your council · Northern Ireland
We have not yet mapped an enabling instrument for 6 licences on this list. That is a gap in our graph, not a statement about the law, and those pages say so rather than guessing.
Checking approvals more broadly?
A licence is one of several things you may need before your first day of trading. The pre-trading quick check walks the registrations, insurances and approvals alongside it.
Not sure which of these apply to you?
Our guides on finding a licence and dealing with your local council walk through the questions that decide it.