SIC 47.91 39,740 enterprises in the UK
Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet
What this covers (20 activity descriptions)
- Boot covers and overshoes made of paper (internet) (retail)
- Boot covers and overshoes made of plastic (internet) (retail)
- Boot covers and overshoes made of textile (internet) (retail)
- Carriages for disabled persons (wheelchairs) (internet) (retail)
- Coronavirus test kits (internet) (retail)
- Covid-19 Sampling kits (medical) (internet) (retail)
- Diagnostic reagents based on immunological reactions (internet) (retail)
- Digital and infrared thermometers (medical) (electronic) (internet) (retail)
- Disinfectant preparations (internet) (retail)
- Disposable and reusable face shields (internet) (retail)
- Domestic humidifiers (internet) (retail)
- Electro‑diagnostic apparatus for medical use (internet) (retail)
- Gas masks (with mechanical parts or replaceable filters for protection against biological agents) (internet) (retail)
- Gloves (knitted or crocheted which have been impregnated or covered with plastics or rubber) (internet) (retail)
- Hats and other headgear
- Hydroalcoholic solution
- Hydrogen peroxide (internet) (retail)
- Internet auctions (retail)
- Internet personal shopper
- Internet retail sales (retail)
What you must comply with
Unique to retail sale via mail order houses or via internet
Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013
14-day cancellation period for distance sales. Pre-contract information must be provided. Applies to all online, phone, and mail order sales.
WEEE producer compliance (if selling EEE)
Online retailers selling electrical/electronic equipment must join a producer compliance scheme or offer take-back. Applies if placing EEE on the UK market.
Packaging waste producer obligations
Applies to businesses handling 50+ tonnes of packaging and with turnover above £2 million. Must register with Environment Agency and join compliance scheme.
Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002
Website must display trader name, geographic address, email, VAT number, and company registration details. Price must include all taxes.
Applies to all retail trade not in stores, stalls or markets
Consumer Rights Act 2015 compliance
Goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described. Applies to all retail sales including online.
Weights and Measures Act 1985 compliance
Goods sold by weight or measure must use approved equipment. Trading Standards officers can inspect at any time.
Price Marking Order 2004
Products offered for sale must display selling price. Unit pricing required for goods sold by weight/volume/measure.
Employers' Liability Insurance
Required for all employers. Sole traders with no employees exempt.
Waste Duty of Care
Commercial waste must be stored, transferred and disposed of correctly. Separate regimes in Scotland (SEPA), Wales (NRW), NI (DAERA).
Business rates
Payable on all retail premises. Small business rate relief available for rateable values under £15,000 in England.
Data protection (UK GDPR)
Registration with ICO required if processing personal data. Applies to customer records, CCTV, loyalty schemes, online accounts.
Guidance for this activity
Subscription and auto-renewal compliance
Understand the new DMCC Act 2024 rules on subscription contracts. Covers pre-contract information, renewal reminders, easy cancellation requirements, and cooling-off periods on auto-renewal.
Read guideAnnual retail compliance checklist
Quick annual compliance verification for established retailers. Covers consumer rights, pricing, age verification, data protection, Sunday trading, fire safety, worker safety, and environmental obligations.
Read guideRetail sector market overview
UK retail market statistics, ecommerce growth trends, and investment opportunities for retailers operating in Great Britain.
Read guideSpecialist retail licences and registrations
Specialist licences required for specific retail activities including tobacco registration, fireworks sales, pet shops, scrap metal dealing, and market trading. For general retail compliance, see the Start a retail business journey.
Read guideProduct safety and labeling requirements
General Product Safety Regulations 2005, UKCA marking, weights and measures compliance, and labeling obligations for retailers selling in Great Britain.
Read guideAvoid selling counterfeit goods
Protect your business from counterfeit goods liability. Covers supplier due diligence, trade mark verification, Trading Standards seizure powers, penalties, and online marketplace duties.
Read guideHealth and safety for retail premises
Retail-specific health and safety obligations. Covers lone working, violence prevention, manual handling, display screen equipment, fire safety, first aid, and shoplifting incident procedures.
Read guideEquality and accessibility for retail businesses
Understand your obligations under the Equality Act 2010 as a retail service provider. Covers protected characteristics, reasonable adjustments for physical stores and websites, lawful service refusal, and enforcement.
Read guideData protection for retail businesses
UK GDPR compliance for retail businesses. Covers customer data handling, CCTV obligations, marketing consent, loyalty programme data, breach response, and ICO registration fees.
Read guideEnvironmental obligations for retailers
Environmental compliance for retail businesses. Covers WEEE registration, packaging waste, EPR, carrier bag charge, single-use plastics ban, Simpler Recycling, and DRS preparation.
Read guideSelling knives and bladed articles
A practical compliance guide for retailers selling knives, blades, and sharp-pointed articles. Covers age verification requirements, prohibited weapons, online sales rules, Scotland's exception for domestic cutlery, and how to build a due diligence defence.
Read guideConsumer Rights and Returns
Understand consumer rights for returns, refunds, and replacements under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Read guideDistance Selling and E-Commerce
Comply with Consumer Contracts Regulations for online, phone, and mail order sales.
Read guideAge-Restricted Products
Understand legal requirements for selling age-restricted products including alcohol, tobacco, and knives.
Read guideSunday Trading Rules
Understand Sunday trading hours restrictions and exemptions in England and Wales.
Read guidePrice Marking for Retailers
Comply with price display requirements under the Price Marking Order 2004.
Read guideAvoid unfair trading practices in retail
Understand unfair trading rules under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (which replaced the CPRs 2008 from 6 April 2025). Covers misleading actions, omissions, aggressive practices, the 31 banned commercial practices, and new CMA enforcement powers.
Read guideEnsure product safety compliance for retailers
Product safety compliance checklist for retailers. Covers supplier vetting, safety marking verification, recall procedures, OPSS reporting, and preparation for the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025.
Read guideHandle customer complaints and disputes
Set up an effective complaint handling process and understand your obligations around Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Online traders must signpost consumers to a certified ADR provider.
Read guideProduct standards and CE marking for the Northern Ireland market
How product standards and marking requirements differ for the Northern Ireland market under the Windsor Framework. Covers CE marking requirements, why UKCA marking is not valid in NI, the EU General Product Safety Regulation applying in NI from December 2024, and dual compliance obligations for businesses selling across the whole UK.
Read guide