In this section
Trading Standards
For more information on the work of Trading Standards services - and the possible consequences of not abiding by the law - please see 'Trading Standards: powers, enforcement and penalties'.
In this update
Two additions to the list of regulated poisons.
Last reviewed / updated: April 2024
Key legislation
- Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959
- Poisons Act 1972
- Criminal Justice Act 1988
- Knives Act 1997
- Control of Poisons and Explosives Precursors Regulations 2015
- Offensive Weapons Act 2019
- Control of Poisons and Explosives Precursors Regulations 2023
Sources and attribution statement
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. and the EU Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.
https://www.gov.uk/
https://www.hse.gov.uk/
https://echa.europa.eu
https://ec.europa.eu
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hazardous-sites-and-substances
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supplying-explosives-precursors
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-licensed-transactions-for-explosives-precursors
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-labelling-requirements-for-regulated-explosives-precursors
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-licensed-transactions-for-internet-retailers-of-explosives-precursors
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advice-to-the-public-on-the-control-of-explosives-precursors-regulations-2014
https://report-suspicious-chemical-activity.dsa.homeoffice.gov.uk/login
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/refusing-a-sale
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/due-diligence-checks
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/knives-and-offensive-weapons-information
https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/offensive-weapons-act-2019-draft-statutory-guidance
https://www.protectuk.Police.uk/advice-and-guidance/awareness/poisons-act-1972-selling-chemicals-responsibly
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/machetes-and-other-bladed-articles-proposed-legislation
Last reviewed / updated: April 2024
< Part 2. Knives, bladed articles and bladed products
Please note
This information is intended for guidance; only the courts can give an authoritative interpretation of the law.
The guide's 'Key legislation' links may only show the original version of the legislation, although some amending legislation is linked to separately where it is directly related to the content of a guide. Information on changes to legislation can be found by following the above links and clicking on the 'More Resources' tab.