Guide to Licences and Registrations
Petroleum
Do I need a licence?
1. If you store more than 15 litres of petroleum spirit (petrol, benzene, toluene, hexane) and you are one of the two categories of work premises below then you need a licence.
Due to changes in petroleum legislation only two main categories of work premises are now required to maintain a licence and these are:
- Retail petrol filling stations; and
- Non retail petrol filling stations.
The latter includes commercial sites and farms if they have storage tanks for petrol and from which the petrol is dispensed, either mechanically or electrically, into the fuel tank for an internal combustion engine (note that this is a much wider definition than just a motor vehicle).
2. Non-workplace, or domestic, storage of petrol may need a licence. This depends on the individual circumstances of a) how it is being stored, b) in what quantity, and c) the type of container used - in any event safety requirements still have to be met. If you are unsure of whether or not you need a licence please contact us for advice.
I need a licence, now what do I do?
An application form must be completed and returned with the fee, copies of plans (scale 1:100) of your premises, which should include the location of petroleum storage and the actual storage arrangements; together with a description of the safety arrangements in place for the safe delivery, storage and dispensing of petrol.
We will then consider the application, once we have received all the relevant information we need and advise you of the outcome.
Licences are granted on an annual basis and need to be renewed by the 1st May each year.
Once a licence is granted it may be that at some time in the future, changes need to be made. If this is the case then a separate application to modify your licence and storage arrangement will be required.
Further, an application will need to be made to transfer the licence to another person along with the appropriate fee.
A licence is issued subject to the Conditions of Licence issued with it. These conditions form part of the licence and relate to various aspects of storage but are primarily there in relation to safety requirements.
A copy of any conditions applicable to your licence will be sent to you with your licence. Replacement copies are available at a cost.
If you want further information on the above, please contact one of our petroleum officers, who can give advice on petroleum matters. Details can be found on the Contact Us page.
The information on this page relates to businesses within Fife. If you have a
business that is outside of our area, please contact your local Authority (possibly Trading Standards, Environmental Health or Fire Service). Find your local service at Trading Standards Central. Changes in the law
The Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations (MSER) came into force on 26th April 2005 and largely replaces the 1875 Explosives Act. If you store fireworks, you still require a registration or licence from the local authority i.e. Trading Standards.
The registration or licence is now granted to a person (or company) and not to the site.
The quantities in the Regulations refer to Net Explosive Quantity (NEQ) - the quantity of explosive contained within the fireworks - and not to the gross weight. If the NEQ weights are not available, then they are taken as being 25% of the gross weight of the fireworks.
Who needs to be registered?
Registration is required if storing:
The quantities are often marked on the explosives outer packaging. Both the amount held on the shop floor and at the rear of the premise should be taken into account.
Most fireworks in retail premises are Hazard Type 4 but if in doubt, please contact your supplier.
The current fees are £100 for a new registration and £50 for a renewal. If you store less than 5 kg of explosives, then there is no need to register or be licensed.
If storing large quantities of fireworks (e.g. 250 kg - <2000 kg NEQ of Hazard type 4 fireworks), you need to licence the store with Trading Standards.
Quantities in sales area
The table below sets out the maximum quantities that may be kept in the sales area of premises:
Explosives Registration (Including Fireworks)
(sq. metres) | of explosives (kg) |
|
| not exceeding 20 | 12.5 | |
| not exceeding 40 | 15 | |
| not exceeding 60 | 20 | |
| not exceeding 80 | 25 | |
| not exceeding 100 | 30 | |
| not exceeding 150 | 35 | |
| not exceeding 200 | 40 | |
| not exceeding 250 | 45 | |
| not exceeding 300 | 50 | |
| not exceeding 350 | 55 | |
| not exceeding 400 | 60 | |
| not exceeding 450 | 65 | |
| not exceeding 499 | 70 | |
| equal to or exceeding 500 | 75 |
The above quantities are subject to a maximum of 12.5 kg per cabinet.
General storage requirements
If storing explosives, you must take appropriate measures to:
- Prevent fire or explosion.
- Limit the extent of fire or explosion including measures to prevent the spreading of fires and the communication of explosives from one location to another, and
- To protect persons from the effects of fire or explosion.
No person who stores explosives shall permit a person under 18 years to work in that storage except under appropriate supervision.
All explosives must be stored in a suitable place depending on the quantity and type of explosives being kept. The key principles are to ensure that the store, container or cupboard is, where appropriate:
- Suitably waterproof.
- Designed to ensure that explosives do not come into contact with substances with which they are incompatible.
- Kept clean with steps taken to prevent grit entering unpackaged explosives.
- Used only to keep explosives and tools/implements connected with the keeping of explosives.
Suitable precautions must be taken to exclude possible sources of ignition such as matches, smoking materials, grit, rust and other contaminants.
Fireworks should be kept in closed transport packaging and only opened when needed.
It is not good practice to decant loose fireworks into metal dustbins. There is a danger that the articles will become mixed up or damaged with loose compound collecting at the bottom of the dustbin.
Where fireworks are kept in a warehouse (or similar room or building) that holds significant quantities of other combustible materials, the storage should be either:
- in an ISO transport container (or similar fully enclosed metal structure).
- using storage cupboards or cabinets.
- building with a structural partition.
- using a wire mesh screen or cage, or
- metal dustbins (provided fireworks are kept in their transport packaging).
Storage and display in shop sales area
Fireworks on the shop floor must be kept in a designated area well away from sources of ignition, and in a display case or storage cupboard or cabinet.
Smoking must not be allowed where fireworks are stored or sold.
Display cases and storage cabinets must be designed to protect against sparks or other sources of ignition. No other goods should be kept in the cabinet except any instruction leaflets or safety literature. Lights or electrical fittings in cabinets must be disconnected.
Each storage cabinet or display case must hold no more than 12.5 kg (NEQ).
Storage adjoining or in the same building as domestic/sleeping accommodation
If more than 75 kg of Hazard Type 4 are kept in a store within or adjoining a building containing domestic/sleeping accommodation, suitable steps must be taken to protect residents of those premises in the event of a fire. The following precautions must be taken:
- a fire detection system must be installed in the shop.
- the domestic parts of the building must have access/exit routes that are fire-separated from those used for the pyrotechnic store.
- there must be suitable fire separation between the pyrotechnic store and the domestic accommodation, and
- the store must be closed off and secured from the domestic part of the property in order to prevent unauthorised access and to help prevent accidental introduction of sources of ignition.
Restrictions on sales
It is an offence:
- to keep fireworks on premises which have not been registered with the local authority for that purpose. Only persons with "fixed" premises can be registered, so fireworks cannot be sold at market stalls, car boot sales or other temporary sales points.
- to sell fireworks to persons under 18 years of age; and
- to hawk, sell or expose for sale any fireworks upon any highway, street, or public place.
The maximum penalty for selling fireworks to persons under the age of 18, is a £5,000 fine. Note that caps, cracker snaps, novelty matches, party poppers, serpents and throw-downs must not be supplied to persons under 16.
The following fireworks must not be supplied to the general public:
- Air bombs, aerial shells, aerial maroons, shell-in-mortar and maroons-in-mortar.
- All bangers (including "batteries" containing bangers, such as Chinese Crackers).
- Mini rockets.
- Fireworks with erratic flight (e.g. ground spinners, jumping jacks, squibs).
- All category 4 fireworks or any other firework which does not meet BS 7114 or EU equivalent.
Fireworks Regulations 2004
These regulations require that suppliers of fireworks to the public, display in a prominent position an A3 notice stating the following:
It is illegal:
- To sell adult fireworks or sparklers to anyone under the age of 18.
- For anyone under the age of 18 to possess fireworks in a public place.
Important notes
It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of, and complying with the regulations covering the manufacture and storage of explosives.
The licensing authority will not normally visit your premises before granting a registration. The authority may prohibit storage of explosives at the site if it believes the site is unsafe. It may also take enforcement action if you are not storing safely.
There are restrictions on the dates which fireworks can now be sold. If you are planning to sell fireworks outside the following periods of the year:
- 15th October to 10th November.
- 26th December to 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.
you may also need a Licence under the Fireworks Regulations 2004. The current fees for a Licence is £170 for a new Licence and £80 for a renewal.
Contacting Us Further information is available by contacting Janice Paton. Tel: 08451 55 55 56. Email: janice.paton@fife.gov.uk.
Completed application forms should be returned to: The sellers of some poisons require to register with the Trading Standards Service.
The poisons which are subject to registration include:
Further information is available by contacting Janice Paton. Tel: 08451 55 55 56. Email: janice.paton@fife.gov.uk.
Download a registration form.
Completed application forms should be returned to: How much does it cost to register?
Second Hand Dealers Licences In Fife, if you trade in second-hand goods of any description you may need a licence under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act. Street Traders Licences If you want to sell goods in the street from snack vans to sport socks, you will need a Street Traders Licence. To find out more and to get an application form contact your Local Office or the Area Law & Administration Office of Fife Council. Telephone: 08451 55 00 00 to find your nearest office. Do you deal in credit? If you do, whether you are a financial consultant or a car dealer you may need a credit licence. For further information, contact your local Trading Standards office, or visit the Office of Fair Trading's website where a range of guidance leaflets are available. Forms are available from us or directly from the Consumer Credit Licensing Bureau. Telephone: 020 7211 8616. On-farm mixers must register with their Council's Trading Standards Service. Farmers who produce compound feeding stuffs for the exclusive use of their holding, need to be registered if they put certain additives like vitamins or trace elements into their feed, or if they include certain pre-mixtures containing vitamins or trace elements, or if they mix in bought-in feeds that contain these additives or pre-mixtures. This new law stems from the implementation of a European Directive seeking to control activities which are considered potentially hazardous to animals, humans or the environment, although these registration provisions govern products considered less sensitive. Further regulations are anticipated imposing a duty on Trading Standards Officers to inspect farms and take samples to ensure that farmers are operating within a proposed code of practice. Registration under the Feeding Stuffs (Establishments and Intermediaries) Regulations 1998 is free. Print a copy of the declaration, simply fill it in and post it to us. A full guidance document is available for on-farm feed mixers, with relevant forms required for record keeping purposes. A printed guidance leaflet is also available on request.
For further advice, Fife farmers should contact the Fife Council Trading Standards Animal Health Officers. Details can be found on the Contact Us page.
Fife Council, Environmental Services, Trading Standards, Kingdom House, Kingdom Avenue, Glenrothes, KY7 5LY
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Fife Council
Environmental Services
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Along with the appropriate fee.
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Poisons
Fife Council
Environmental Services
Trading Standards
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Glenrothes
KY7 5LY
Along with the appropriate fee.
Cheques, postal orders should be made payable to 'Fife Council'.
Second Hand Dealers and Street Traders
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Telephone: 08451 55 55 56.
Electronic Mail: cds_TS@fife.gov.uk
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