Sector

Retail & Consumer Goods

Shops, e-commerce, consumer products, wholesale and distribution.

Retail & Consumer Goods 398,210 enterprises in the UK

Start here

See all 16
Changing nowFee modulation from 2026

Packaging producer compliance journey

If you put packaged goods on the UK market — EPR fees are being invoiced now
New to retail

Start a retail business - compliance essentials

Consumer law, pricing, age-restricted sales and product safety from day one
Check you're compliant

Retail compliance quick check

The established-operator self-audit
Also worth checkingFCA regulation from 15 July 2026

Meet FCA rules for Buy Now Pay Later

If you offer instalment credit at the point of sale
If it's gone wrong

Respond to a Trading Standards investigation

Contacted by Trading Standards? Start here

Who regulates you

See all 45

Local Authority (opens in a new tab)

Local councils enforce food safety (via Environmental Health Officers), issue alcohol licences, grant planning permission, and regulate certain business activities at local level. Responsibilities …

Enforces 28 Acts this sector relies on.

Trading Standards (opens in a new tab)

Enforces consumer protection legislation including food labelling, weights and measures, product safety, and fair trading. Part of local authority structure. Investigates food labelling breaches.

Enforces 27 Acts this sector relies on.

Environment Agency (opens in a new tab)

Environmental protection in England. Regulates waste, emissions, water quality, flood risk, and environmental permits for industrial activities. Enforces environmental law and issues permits for …

Enforces 15 Acts this sector relies on.

HMRC (opens in a new tab)

Tax collection, customs duties, national insurance, tax credits, and enforcement of the National Minimum Wage. Regulates all UK businesses for tax compliance including Corporation …

Enforces 15 Acts this sector relies on.

OPSS (opens in a new tab)

Product safety regulator responsible for ensuring consumer products are safe. Enforces product safety regulations, UKCA marking requirements, and works with market surveillance authorities. Part …

Enforces 15 Acts this sector relies on.

HSE (opens in a new tab)

Workplace health, safety, and welfare regulation across all industries. Enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and related regulations. Investigates serious incidents …

Enforces 14 Acts this sector relies on.

Key legislation

See all 161
DMCCA 2024 Cited by 16 of this sector’s guides · 835 provisions Act
Licensing Act 2003 Cited by 12 of this sector’s guides · 502 provisions Act
General Product Safety Regulations 2005 Cited by 8 of this sector’s guides · 58 provisions SI
Food Safety Act 1990 Cited by 7 of this sector’s guides · 142 provisions Act
Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 Cited by 5 of this sector’s guides · 226 provisions Act
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 Cited by 4 of this sector’s guides · 1893 provisions Act
Human Medicines Regulations 2012 Cited by 4 of this sector’s guides · 1313 provisions SI
Consumer Credit Act 1974 Cited by 4 of this sector’s guides · 399 provisions Act

General rules

Common requirements that apply across industries. Conditions such as employing people or operating premises are shown only after they are known.

General rule

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.

Applies across industries.

 General rule

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.

Applies across industries.

 General rule

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.

Applies across industries.

 General rule

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.

Applies across industries.

All guidance for retail & consumer goods

International Trade

1

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Tax & Finance

8

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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Use a VAT retail scheme

If you sell mainly to the public at more than one VAT rate and cannot issue a VAT invoice for every sale, a retail scheme lets you calculate VAT from your total takings. Sales to VAT-registered businesses still need a VAT invoice.

Applies if you sell goods to ordinary consumers

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Section 75 claims and connected lender liability

If a customer pays by credit card or other linked credit for a single item costing more than £100 and up to £30,000, the lender is jointly liable with the supplier for any misrepresentation or breach of contract. Section 75 does not cover debit cards, charge cards or buy now pay later.

Applies if you lend money or let customers pay over time under a credit agreement

Handle early settlement and withdrawal requests

Consumers can repay a regulated credit agreement early at any time, and you must send a settlement statement within 7 working days of a request. Separately, they can withdraw from most agreements within 14 days without giving a reason.

Applies if you lend money or let customers pay over time under a credit agreement

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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Hire purchase and conditional sale agreements

Under hire purchase and conditional sale, the finance company owns the goods until the customer has paid everything. Once a customer has paid one-third of the total, the goods are protected and you cannot repossess them without a court order.

Applies if you lend money or let customers pay over time under a credit agreement

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Premises & Operations

4

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Environment & Sustainability

8

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Packaging waste producer responsibilities

If your business has a turnover of more than £1 million and handles more than 25 tonnes of packaging a year, you must register and report packaging data under Extended Producer Responsibility. Large producers, with £2 million turnover and more than 50 tonnes, also pay disposal fees and meet recycling obligations.

Applies if your goods reach customers in packaging that you supply, brand or import

Get a water discharge permit

If your business discharges effluent, waste water or contaminated run-off into rivers, the sea or the ground, you need an environmental permit; discharging without one can mean up to 5 years in prison and an unlimited fine. Discharges to a public sewer need trade effluent consent from your water company instead.

Applies if you release liquid effluent or waste water into a river, the sea or the ground

Trade effluent consent for discharging to sewers

If your business discharges liquid waste other than domestic sewage into a public sewer, you need trade effluent consent from your sewerage company. Discharging without it is a criminal offence under the Water Industry Act 1991, with an unlimited fine.

Applies if you put process liquids, washwater or other non-household effluent down the drain into the public sewer

Apply for a water abstraction licence

If you take more than 20 cubic metres of water a day from a river, stream, borehole or other natural source, you need an abstraction licence; abstracting without one is a criminal offence. Start early with a pre-application enquiry, because the regulator must check your abstraction won't harm the water body.

Applies if you take water from a river, borehole, spring or well rather than the mains

Growth & Strategy

1

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Sector-Specific

8

Get the specialist licences your shop needs

Most shops need no special licence. Selling fireworks outside the traditional periods, buying scrap metal, selling animals as pets, trading on the street and, in some nations, selling tobacco, vapes or nicotine products each need a licence or registration before you start.

Applies to some businesses in this sector – open the guide to check

Display selling and unit prices correctly

If you sell goods to consumers in Great Britain, in a shop or online, you must show the selling price including VAT near each product, in sterling and clearly legible. Larger shops and bulk sales also need a unit price. Trading Standards enforce the Price Marking Order, and a breach is a criminal offence.

Applies if you sell goods to ordinary consumers

Sell knives and bladed articles lawfully

It is a criminal offence to sell a knife, blade, axe or other sharp-pointed article made to injure to anyone under 18, in a shop, at a market or online. Some weapons cannot be sold to anyone, and online sellers face extra conditions. A due diligence defence needs evidence.

Applies if you sell age-restricted goods to customers face to face

Sell safe products with the right conformity marking

You must only supply consumer products that are safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Check your suppliers, keep safety records, act on safety concerns and recall unsafe products. Some products also need a UKCA or CE marking before you can sell them in Great Britain.

Applies if you make, import or supply finished goods that end up in consumers' hands

Consumer rights compliance for traders

When you sell to consumers, goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described, and you cannot contract out of this. A consumer can reject faulty goods for a full refund within 30 days; after that, you must repair or replace them first.

Applies if you sell goods to ordinary consumers

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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Ensure product safety compliance for retailers

As a retailer, you must sell only safe products, even if you did not make them. Vet suppliers and get their test certificates, check conformity marking and labelling, keep traceability records, and if a product proves unsafe, stop selling it, report it and tell customers.

Applies if you make, import or supply finished goods that end up in consumers' hands

Subscription and auto-renewal compliance

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 brings new rules for subscriptions and auto-renewing contracts: clear information before signing, renewal reminders, easy cancellation and cooling-off periods. The rules are not yet in force, with commencement expected in spring 2027, but systems may need changing well before then.

Applies if you sell subscriptions to consumers, especially ones that renew automatically
Show 38 more

Avoiding unfair terms in consumer contracts

Part 2 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 controls which terms in consumer contracts are enforceable. Many traders unwittingly use terms that a court or the CMA would find unfair - and those terms are void even if the consumer signed them.

Applies if you sell goods or provide services to individuals for their personal use

Handle consumer complaints about faulty goods

A customer who returns faulty goods within 30 days is entitled to a full refund, not a repair. After that they choose a repair or replacement, and for 6 months from delivery you must assume the goods were faulty when sold.

Applies if you sell goods to ordinary consumers

Equality and accessibility for retail businesses

The Equality Act 2010 bars retailers from discriminating against customers because of a protected characteristic, including through rules that apply to everyone but disadvantage some groups. Your duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled customers is anticipatory, so remove barriers in stores, policies and websites before anyone meets them.

Applies if you sell goods to ordinary consumers

Handle customer complaints and disputes

Set up an effective complaint handling process and understand your obligations around Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Since 6 April 2026 you must tell a complaining consumer what ADR is available, and ADR providers must be accredited.

Applies if you sell goods or provide services to individuals for their personal use

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Sell vehicle parts and accessories

It is an offence to supply a vehicle part that could not be fitted without making the vehicle unsafe or unlawful on the road, if you have reason to believe it is for fitting. If you sell portable batteries or electrical accessories, you must also take back customers' waste ones.

Applies if you sell or distribute replacement vehicle parts into the aftermarket

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Information you must give customers when selling online

Before a customer orders, you must show who you are, the total price, delivery charges and their right to cancel, then send a confirmation afterwards. Selling through a marketplace does not pass these duties to the platform.

Applies if you sell or provide services at a distance - online, by phone or by mail order

Rules for vehicle dealers

Selling cars, vans or motorcycles brings duties beyond ordinary consumer law: you must not mislead buyers about a vehicle's history, you must display fuel and CO2 information on new cars, and if you arrange finance or sell add-on insurance you must be authorised by the FCA. Dealers who import or first-register vehicles also have type-approval duties.

Applies to some businesses in this sector – open the guide to check

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Run an MOT testing station

As an MOT Authorised Examiner, you must charge no more than the maximum test fees, keep testing equipment calibrated, make sure your testers complete their annual training and assessment, and run regular quality control checks. DVSA inspects stations and gives disciplinary points for failures, which can lead to suspension or loss of authorisation.

Applies to some businesses in this sector – open the guide to check

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Prepare for CMA enforcement action

If the CMA or Trading Standards contacts you about a possible consumer law breach, get specialist legal advice at once. Since 6 April 2025, the CMA can fine businesses up to 10% of worldwide turnover or £300,000, whichever is higher, without going to court.

Applies if you sell goods or provide services to individuals for their personal use

Consumer rights compliance for service providers

Every service you provide to consumers must be carried out with reasonable care and skill, and anything you tell them about yourself or the service becomes part of the contract. If the service falls short, you must repeat it or, if that is impossible, reduce the price.

Applies if you sell goods or provide services to individuals for their personal use

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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Run a vehicle dismantler or salvage business

To depollute and scrap end-of-life vehicles you need an environmental permit and Authorised Treatment Facility status, because only an ATF can issue a Certificate of Destruction. To trade in scrap metal or salvage you also need a scrap metal dealer licence from your local authority.

Applies if you dismantle or salvage vehicles for parts or scrap, including treating end-of-life vehicles

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Distance and off-premises selling requirements

When you sell to consumers online, by phone or at their home, you must give them set information before they buy and let them cancel within 14 days for any reason. Since 6 April 2025, the CMA can fine you up to 10% of global turnover for breaches.

Applies if you sell or provide services at a distance - online, by phone or by mail order

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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Food business registration

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

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Allergen control systems and Natasha's Law

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

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Assess whether your product meets the general safety requirement

Before you sell a consumer product in Great Britain, assess its foreseeable hazards and record your findings in a signed, dated risk assessment. Keep it for at least 10 years: it is the basis of your due diligence defence if enforcement action is taken.

Applies if you make, import or supply finished goods that end up in consumers' hands

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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

All journeys

Start a retail business - compliance essentials

Put the legal basics in place before you open a shop: consumer rights, pricing, weights and measures, product …

Grow your retail business

Scale your retail business - expand online, open new locations, build your team, and manage increased compliance as …

Respond to a Trading Standards investigation

What to do if Trading Standards has contacted you, visited your premises, or conducted a test purchase. Covers …

Retail compliance quick check

Quick compliance check for experienced retailers. Covers consumer rights, price marking, age-restricted sales, and annual compliance obligations.

Set up a wholesale business

A step-by-step path for setting up a wholesale business of any kind — supplying controlled or excise goods, …

Set up a motor trade business

A step-by-step path for setting up a motor trade business of any kind — selling cars and motorcycles …

Open a community pharmacy

Register your pharmacy premises, put a responsible pharmacist in charge whenever you sell medicines, join the NHS pharmaceutical …

Open an optician's practice

Use registered professionals for sight tests, contact lens fitting and the sale of glasses, register your company with …

Sell at markets and craft fairs

Sell from a stall at a market, Christmas market or craft fair. Check who gives permission for your …

Run a pop-up shop

Trade from an empty shop unit or part of someone else's premises for a short period. Check the …

Meet food safety requirements for your business

Register, implement HACCP, and comply with food safety law including allergen requirements

Start a food business for the first time

Everything you need to do before opening a food business. Covers registration, premises, HACCP, training, allergens, labelling, and …

Improve your food hygiene rating

Practical steps to improve a poor food hygiene rating. Understand what inspectors scored, fix the issues, and request …

Food safety quick compliance check

A quick compliance check for food business operators. Covers registration, HACCP, allergens, temperature control, training, and record keeping.

Respond to a food safety incident

Immediate steps when unsafe food is discovered or a customer reports illness. Stop selling, withdraw the product, notify …

Product compliance for manufacturers

Learn how to ensure your products meet UK safety and marking requirements before placing them on the market

Subsectors

SIC 2007 divisions covered by this sector.

Motor Vehicle Trade

Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

SIC 45

Wholesale Trade

Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles

SIC 46

Retail Trade

Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles

SIC 47