If you are a retailer or wholesaler of smoking products, you will be required to hold a smoking product supply licence from 1 September 2024. Without this licence you will be prohibited from supplying smoking products.
To avoid processing delays, you should apply as soon as possible, no later than 31 May 2024. Early applications are eligible for a discounted fee.
Smoking products can include tobacco products, herbal cigarettes, loose smoking blend, shisha, smoking related products or a package or carton of any of these things.
If you are a vape supplier, but do not also sell smoking products related to tobacco, you should not apply for a licence.
There are 3 licence types available.
Retail licence
A retail licence authorises you to sell smoking products to the public from a retail premises or an online shop.
If you want to sell smoking products from more than 1 premises, you must submit a separate application and hold a licence for each premises.
A single retail licence can include 1 premises and 1 connected online retail shop.
In some circumstances, if you hold a retail licence, you may be permitted to sell limited quantities of smoking products by wholesale to smaller retail premises. A limited wholesale condition can be applied for as part of your retail licence application.
Retail (liquor) licence
A retail (liquor) licence authorises you to sell smoking products to the public from a liquor licensed premises. Only a liquor licensee may apply for a retail (liquor) licence. A copy of your liquor licence for the premises is required as part of the application process.
If you want to sell smoking products from more than 1 liquor licensed premises, you must apply and obtain a licence for each premises.
A retail (liquor) licence limits the supply of smoking products from the liquor licensed premises. Online supply of smoking products is not permitted.
Wholesale licence
A wholesale licence authorises you to sell smoking products by wholesale to licensed retailers from a wholesale premises or an online wholesale outlet.
If you want to sell smoking products from more than 1 wholesale premises, you must submit a separate application and hold a licence for each premises. Where your wholesale premises has an online outlet for online sales connected to the wholesale premises, a single wholesale licence authorises you to sell smoking products from both.