You may need a poisons licence if you are selling products containing certain chemicals or ingredients. Poisons licences are issued by the Licensing team and Trading Standards can answer any queries you might have about them.

Registration under the Poisons Act 1972

Application forms

If you need to apply for a poisons licence for the first time, please use this application form - Poisons application form.

If you need to renew an existing poisons licence, please use this form - Poisons renewal form.

Why is a licence required?

In the interest of public safety, the sale of poisons is prohibited unless the seller is a retail pharmacist or a listed seller.  A listed seller is a person who has his name on the local authority's list entitling him to sell poisons from the premises named on the licence.

More Information

A listed seller, or named deputy, is allowed to sell the poisons named in Part II of the Poisons List subject to certain conditions. You can see the list of chemicals here.

Listed sellers cannot sell poisons which are included in Part I of the Poisons List (view here). These may only be sold by a pharmacist.

Each listed seller is required to keep a Poisons Book in which certain information relating to each sale of a poison must be entered before delivery to the purchaser.

Licences must be renewed annually from 1 May each year.

For more information please have a look at our business guide to selling poisons.

How much does it cost?

The following fees are valid for licences running from 1st May 2014 - 30 April 2015 and must be paid to the local authority by every person whose name is entered in the list:

1. For a first application - in respect of the entry of your name in the list, a fee of £33.40 (inc VAT) for each set of premises on which you are entitled to sell.

2. For a renewal of an application - in respect of the retention of his name on the list in any year subsequent to the year in which it was first entered, a fee of £17.60 (Inc VAT) for each set of premises.

3. In respect of the making of any alteration in the list in relation to the premises on which you are entitled to sell, a fee of £9.00 (Inc VAT) (NB. There is no additional fee for changing the name(s) of your deputies).

Please make cheques/postal orders payable to Milton Keynes Council, and submit your application form(s) with the required fee.

Can I assume my licence is granted if I don't hear from Milton Keynes Council within a reasonable time?

No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from us within a reasonable time of submitting your application, please contact us.

What are the penalties if I sell poisons without a licence?

You could be fined up to £500 (and an extra £5 for each day you continue to break the law) if you sell a poison not covered by your licence.

You could be fined up to £500 if you get in the way of a council inspection, don’t allow samples to be taken or don’t provide required information when asked.

If you are not sure whether or not you need a poisons licence you could contact the manufacturer of the product or you can seek advice by emailing Trading Standards.