Trading standards - licences and registration

  • Petroleum Licences
  • Tobacco Retailers Register (Scottish Government)
  • Explosives / Fireworks Registrations
  • Poisons Registrations
  • Animal Feed Hygiene

Petroleum Licences

Petrol stored in underground tanks

Stirling Council Trading Standards issue petroleum licences for both Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils.  The main type of premises required to hold a licence to keep petroleum spirit are -

  • retail petrol filling stations
  • non-retail petrol filling stations. (That is, premises with petrol storage tanks where the petrol is not for sale, but is 'dispensed into the fuel tanks of internal combustion engines', such as on contractors' premises, farms or private estates.)

If you think you may need a petroleum licence, you can contact us by email or see the Contact Us page.  Initially, we will arrange to visit the premises and advise you on the current requirements to meet licensable standards.  This is based on the current industry guidance* for the design of petrol installations.  If the proposed installation is suitable, we will then ask you to complete a simple application form and to supply the following –

  • a copy of a drawing showing details of the petrol installation
  • evidence of satisfactory tank and pipeline test by a competent contractor
  • evidence of a current satisfactory electrical inspection certificate covering any electrical equipment associated with the petrol installation
  • the appropriate fee

Petroleum licences are renewable for one, two or three year periods.  Licences expire on 30 September each year.  The fee payable depends on the licensed maximum storage capacity.
The current statutory fees (VAT exempt) are as follows:
       Up to 2,500 litres        £42 for each year
       2,501 - 50,000 litres    £58 for each year
       Over 50,000 litres       £120 for each year
       Transfer of licence      £8

For licence renewal purposes, tank and pipeline tests will not normally be required provided that the licensee can produce records of wetstock reconciliation.  In practice, this means keeping records of daily stock checks, either by manual dip readings or remote tank gauges, in order to keep a constant check on any losses from the tank.

* The current industry guidance is contained in the document 'Design, Modification, Maintenance and Decommissioning of Filling Stations' published jointly by the Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration and the Energy Institute.

Download a Petroleum Licence application form here
Download a Renewal of Petroleum Licence form here
Download a Transfer of Petroleum Licence form here
Download a copy of the standard licence conditions (Stirling area)
Download a copy of the standard licence conditions (Clackmannanshire area)

Tobacco retailers register - (Scottish Government)

Since 1st October 2011, it has been illegal for retailers to sell tobacco unless they have registered with the Scottish Government’s Tobacco Retailers Register.  This is as a result of the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010.
To register online, go to www.tobaccoregisterscotland.org, or download and print the registration form to complete by hand and register by post.
There is no registration fee.

Explosives /Fireworks registrations

Storing fireworks

If you store fireworks, you require a registration or licence from the local authority, via Trading Standards.
The Regulations allow up to 250kg net weight (approximately 1000kg gross weight) to be stored.   The net weight, or NEQ (net explosive equivalent), is often marked on the outer packaging of the explosives.  Information about net weight of fireworks can be obtained from your supplier.   If that information is not available, then the net weight is taken as being 25% of the gross weight.
The licence or registration is granted to a person (or company).

Who needs to be registered?

Registration is required if you wish to store the following types of fireworks -

  • ·Up to 250kg of Hazard Type 4
  • ·Up to 100kg of a combination of Hazard Type 3 and 4
  • ·Up to 100kg of Hazard Type 3 explosives

This includes both the amount held on a shop floor and in any storage area. Most fireworks in retail premises are Hazard Type 4, but if in doubt consult your supplier. If you are storing larger quantities of fireworks (eg. 250kg - 2000kg NEQ of Hazard type 4 fireworks), you will need a licence for the store. Contact Trading Standards for more information.
If you store less than 5kg of explosives, then there is no need to be registered or licensed.

Selling fireworks

Note:  A registration is for the storage of fireworks.  This does not entitle you to sell fireworks every day of the year.  You can only sell fireworks during the following periods:

  • 15th October - 10th November
  • 26th December - 31st December
  • On the 1st day of the Chinese New Year and the 3 days immediately preceding it
  • On the day of Diwali and the 3 days immediately preceding it

If you wish to sell fireworks outside of these periods, you will also require a licence to sell fireworks.  The current fee for such a licence is £500.

Registration Fees

If you have not been registered with us previously, and you intend to store up to 250kg NEQ, then your application will be classed as a new registration, and the fee will be £105.00.  If your registration is a renewal from last year for storing up to 250kg NEQ, then the fee will be £52.00.

Download an Explosives Registration form here

Poisons registration

The retailing of products which contain certain poisons is controlled by the Poisons Act 1972.  The Poisons List Order 1982 contains a list of poisons covered by the Poisons Act.  Part I of the list contains poisons that may only be sold by a registered pharmacist.  Part II of the list contains poisons which cannot be sold unless you are registered with your Local Authority.

Typical examples of the types of products which might include these chemicals are:

  • Sanitary Fluids
  • Descalers
  • Drain Cleaners
  • Strong Disinfectants
  • Weed killers

Once you have registered you must store the poisons safely.  Usually, that means -

  • in a separate drawer or cupboard kept only for that purpose, or
  • in part of the premises where customers are not permitted, or
  • on a shelf kept solely for the storage of poisons and no food is kept directly under the shelf.

The current fees are:        Registration             £35.17 (including VAT)
                                      Change of details     £19.51 (including VAT)

To register, contact us via the Contact Us page or Download a Poisons Registration form here

Animal feed hygiene

The Feed (Hygiene and Enforcement)(Scotland) Regulations 2005 are intended to ensure that the storage and use of animal feeding stuffs is adequately controlled.  The Regulations apply to most businesses who handle animal feeding stuffs, including manufacturers, suppliers, farmers and livestock hauliers.  For more information, see the Food Standards Agency advice

Further information…