Trading Standards Officers from Barking and Dagenham Council have carried out several test purchases to check if high-strength corrosive products were being sold to underage individuals.

An example of these products is One Shot, which contains more than 15% w/w sulphuric acid.

It is illegal to sell corrosive products containing sulphuric acid at this concentration to individuals under the age of 18, as stipulated by the Offensive Weapons Act 2019.

Out of the eleven premises tested, only one was found to be in violation of the law. This establishment will now face further sanctions, including potential prosecution in court.

It is also illegal to sell corrosive products to the general public unless the buyer possesses a valid Explosives, Precursor and Poisons (EPP) licence.

Retailers must ensure that customers provide a copy of their EPP licence along with associated identification and paperwork issued by the Home Office. Supplying regulated substances to individuals without a valid EPP licence is a criminal offence.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, commented: “We are committed to protecting our community from the dangers posed by high-strength corrosives. The results of these test purchases highlight the importance of vigilance and compliance among retailers. 

“We will continue to take strong action against those who fail to adhere to the law.”

To help retailers comply with the law, Trading Standards recommends implementing the following due diligence measures:

• Ask all buyers to show their EPP licence.
• Keep all products behind the counter and out of reach.
• Introduce a Challenge 25 policy.
• Maintain a refusals register – keep track on people who have been refused in the past.
• Use a till prompt Electric Point of Sale system.
• Install CCTV and display warning signage to deter underage purchases.

For further advice or to report an offence, Trading Standards can be contacted on tradingstandards@lbbd.gov.uk.