Deadline looming for city retailers to register intent to sell tobacco
28/09/11
Aberdeen businesses intending to sell tobacco have until Saturday, 01 October to sign up to a new national register or face a fine.
The City Council’s Trading Standards team is concerned that local retailers have been slow to register, with as many as half failing to sign up so far.
Under the recently introduced Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act, retailers must register to sell cigarettes and other tobacco products. Those who do not will be breaking the law and could be issued a fixed penalty notice of £200 by Trading Standards officers. If the case proceeded to the courts, retailers could face a fine of up to £20,000 and be sent to prison for up to six months. If a business is found to be in breach of tobacco sales legislation three times in two years, a local authority can apply to the courts to have the retailer banned from selling tobacco.
Graeme Paton, Trading Standards Team Leader, said it was disappointing that some local businesses have failed to complete the simple registration process, which can be submitted online or by post.
He added: “Time is running out. All tobacco businesses in Aberdeen have been sent information by the Scottish Government on how to register. We don’t want to have to use these new powers against legitimate businesses but if they are not registered we may have to.”
Any business that sells cigarettes, cigars or other tobacco products, even from a vending machine, must register by Saturday, 01 October.
Retailers can register on the Scottish Tobacco Retailer Register homepage where they can complete the online form. They can also register on paper by downloading the registration form from the website or requesting a paper copy from Aberdeen Trading Standards by calling 01224 523737. Completed paper forms should be sent to the Scottish Government, Tobacco Control Team, Area 3EN, St Andrew’s House, Regent Road, Edinburgh, EH1 3DG.