Examples of household poisons that are covered are;

• caustic soda;
• methylated spirits;
• some drain cleaners; and
• some chemical toilet fluids.

There are also a number of specialised products, generally for agricultural or horticultural use, such as rat or mole poisons that are covered. A detailed list of controlled chemicals is available in the useful downloads section below.

Certain other poisons can only be sold by a registered pharmacist. A list of these is to be found in part 1 of the list of the  list of controlled chemicals document [89kb] [word]. Trading standards cannot license premises for the sale of any of these poisons listed in part 1.

You can contact us using the details supplied below for a licence application form. This should be sent to trading standards and planning services at the address below along with a cheque for the applicable fee made payable to 'North Yorkshire County Council'. The current fees (per year) are:

Licence expiration

You have to renew your poison licence each year. The licence is issued on 1st January and runs for a year until the 31st December. The fee covers you to sell poisons between these periods. If you wish to apply for a licence part way through, then the same fee would still apply.

You have to specify the name of the person who will hold the licence and up to two deputies who may also sell poisons. You should also specify each premises at which you will sell poisons. If you have 3 branches, for example, each address will need to be stated on the licence. There are spaces on the application form for all this information to be included.

Labelling requirements

• the name of the poison or its trade name;
• if the poison is only one ingredient of a substance the proportion of poison to the total ingredients;
• the word poison or appropriate symbol;
• any risk or safety phrases appropriate to the product;
• name and address of the supplier;
• if liquid poison is sold in bottles of less than 1.14 litres, the outer surface of the bottle must be fluted vertically with ribs or grooves recognisable by touch.

The labelling requirements are complex. If you are unsure about any product you intend to sell please contact the business advice team on tel: 01609 534868 for further advice.   

Restrictions

Even though some poisons feature in the  list of controlled chemicals document [89kb] [word], there are conditions attached to their sale. The columns on the list to the right of the name column indicates where restrictions apply and the final page of the list, in the notes section explains those restrictions. If you are not sure about the category of any of the poisons you sell please contact the Business Advice Team on tel: 01609 534868.

Useful downloads List of controlled chemicals [89kb] [word] Poisons list   Weblinks Please note: All external websites open in a new browser window and NYCC is not responsible for the content of external websites. Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) Pesticides Safety Directorate information on which pesticides are poisons including a Code of Practice for suppliers Contacts Licensing team business.advice@northyorks.gov... Tel: 01609 534868 Full details for Licensing team