Do I need a trade license

Many entrepreneurs who want to start their business in the field of trade often face the fact that the goods they plan to sell may be under state control. This means that in order to carry out trading activities, the organization must obtain a license from the state.

Until recently, there was law No. 128-FZ, published in 2001, "On the licensing of certain types of activities." Changes and additions were regularly made to it, in particular, the latest changes entered into force on January 1, 2011. However, our legislators were not satisfied with this and in May 2011 they issued a new law No. 99-ФЗ with the same name, which entered into force on November 3 of this year. At the same time, on October 19, and then on November 21, changes had already been made to it. Fortunately, this had little effect on the activities of trade organizations, because the list of licensed types of detail for them remained the same.

So, a trade license is required:

- if you are going to sell technical equipment focused on obtaining tacit information;

- if you plan to sell printing products that are protected from fakes (including forms of securities);

- if among your goods there will be ammunition and other types of weapons;

- if you want to sell scrap of ferrous and non-ferrous metals;

- if your company will be engaged in the sale of medical and pharmaceutical products (including psychotropic and narcotic drugs).

A separate law (No. 171-ФЗ "On state regulation of the production and turnover of ethyl alcohol of alcoholic and alcohol-containing products") regulates the retail sale of alcoholic products, which implies an annual payment of state duty in the amount of 40 thousand rubles for a license valid for 1 to 5 years. Licenses are issued, for example, in Moscow by the Department of Trade and Services, in St. Petersburg by the Committee for Economic Development, Industrial Policy and Trade, and in the regions, by similar government agencies with the appropriate powers.

It should be noted that until recently, obtaining a license to trade in alcohol concerned only products with an ethyl alcohol content of more than 15%.

However, in July 2011, the President signed amendments to the law that state that now licenses must be obtained for trade in alcohol with a strength of more than 5%, and beer and other low-alcohol drinks were equated with alcohol.

Thus, for the retail sale of beer and beer drinks from July 1, 2012, a license will be required.

trade license