For health and safety reasons, most hazardous materials (such as fire extinguishers, radioactive materials, flammable gases and solids and toxic substances) can’t be listed on Buy N Sell LOCAL.
The law generally prohibits transporting hazardous materials or ‘dangerous goods’ per transport regulations. However, there are a few types of ‘dangerous goods’ that may be legally transported provided they are properly packaged and labelled, and only under certain conditions. These items may be sold on Buy N Sell LOCAL, as long as the listing:
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Clearly describes the hazardous nature of the product
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Specifies a compliant transport or delivery method that meets transport regulations and postal/courier requirements
Further information on the classification and transport of ‘dangerous goods’
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The transport of dangerous goods by road, rail, sea or air is regulated by International and European regulations.
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To check if your product is classified as dangerous goods, please check Section 14 of the REACH Safety Data Sheet (SDS) from the manufacturer. A UN number (a four digit code preceded by the letters ‘UN’) indicates the product has been classified as dangerous goods for transport and requires additional measures for transportation.
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For UK sellers, please read the information on the Gov.uk website about sending dangerous goods.
It’s important to choose a carrier that permits the transport of the item you are selling. Although carriers may have different prohibitions and restrictions in place, visit these websites to see examples of prohibited and restricted items, and their packaging advice:
Make sure your listing follows these guidelines. If it doesn’t, it may be removed and your buying and selling privileges could be restricted. Your package may also be disposed by the carrier.
What are the guidelines?
Chemicals
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Allowed
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Information on the sale of chemicals
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Restricted
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Legally permitted chemicals (e.g. acetone, paints, inks, cleaning products, glues, oils) can be offered as long as:
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The product will be transported safely according to chemical legislation and the carrier’s policies (i.e. compliant packaging and labelling with EU standards)
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Appropriate information is provided to the buyer regarding the safe use of the product
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The following explosives precursors can be offered for sale as long as the substance is only present at or below the concentration limit where given:
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Hydrogen peroxide at or below 12% weight by weight
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Not allowed
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Items that contravene any provision of the CLP regulation(Classification, Labelling and Packaging of chemicals and mixtures). For more information, please visit the HSE website.
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Items that contravene any provisions of the REACH regulation(Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals)
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Prohibited substances include, but are not limited to:
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Asbestos and items containing asbestos such as collectable gas masks
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Jewellery containing nickel
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Items containing mercury such as thermometers, manometers, barometers and sphygmomanometers (blood pressure measuring devices)
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Any carcinogenic, mutagenic or repro-toxic substance (category 1 or 2) in substances or mixtures sold to the general public
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The following explosives precursors:
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Hydrogen peroxide above 12% weight by weight
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Fireworks and combustible items
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Restricted
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Dummy fireworks that have no combustible components
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Firework labels that are no longer attached to a firework
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Model rockets that have no engines
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Pyrotechnic devices that have no combustible materials (such as control devices, launchers, or tubes)
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Not allowed
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Fireworks, including but not limited to:
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Flares (both projectile and road flares)
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Gas cylinders containing any of the following compressed gases are also prohibited for safety reasons: acetylene, carbon monoxide, ammonia, chlorine, hydrogen and sulphur dioxide. Empty or part-empty bottles are also prohibited as they may contain residual gas
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Used oil (such as cooking oil or motor oil)
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Fire extinguishers
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Allowed
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Empty fire extinguishers or empty fire extinguisher grenades
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Fire extinguishers that don’t contain carbon tetrachloride
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Information on how to use a fire extinguisher
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Restricted
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A listing for antique fire extinguishers or fire extinguisher grenades needs to clearly state what substance they are filled with
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Not allowed
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Fire extinguishers or fire extinguisher grenades (including glass bulb fire extinguishers and brass fire extinguishers with a T-shaped handle) that contain carbon tetrachloride. (See the Fire Service’s website for tips on safe disposal.)
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Freon and other refrigerants
The sale of refrigerants, including CFCs, HCFCs and products commonly known as Freon, is regulated in the UK. Most of these products may not be lawfully sold in the UK or even used to maintain existing equipment and subsequently may not be listed on Buy N Sell LOCAL.
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Allowed
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Refrigerants contained within a household appliance or a vehicle
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Not allowed
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Brand name or items described as Freon
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Pesticides and poisons
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Allowed
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Information on the use of pesticides
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Restricted
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Approved pesticide products
Buy N Sell LOCAL permits the listing of approved pesticide products only if:
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the original container and/or original packaging, supplied by the approved holder for that pesticide, is unopened
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the pesticide is registered by the PSD or HSE
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the pesticide is properly labelled and displays the statutory conditions of use
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the pesticide is not restricted, suspended or cancelled
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the seller verifies that the container will be delivered in accordance with postal or transport regulations
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the seller has a certificate of competence with respect to pesticides for agricultural use
It is the seller’s responsibility to ensure that the pesticide is registered and labelled according to legal requirements before offering it for sale on Buy N Sell LOCAL. However, the buyer should verify the information provided by the seller before completing the sale. All sellers must state in their item description that they will comply with all applicable laws and regulations as well as ensure that the highest bidder satisfies all applicable regulations.
Collectable pesticide containers
Buy N Sell LOCAL permits the listing of collectable pesticide containers or devices only if:
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the container or device is empty and rinsed, and the seller includes this information in the listing description
It is the seller’s responsibility to ensure that the pesticide container or device is empty and rinsed before listing it for sale on Buy N Sell LOCAL. However, the buyer should verify the information provided the by the seller before completing the sale. Do not dump the remaining contents of the pesticide container down the drain, into the garden or sewer. Contact your local authority, the HSE or PSD (UK) for instructions on the safe disposal of pesticides before you list the container or device for sale on Buy N Sell LOCAL.
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Not allowed
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Restricted, suspended or cancelled pesticides
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Opened containers or packages of pesticides
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Poisonous or toxic substances that Royal Mail has prohibited for posting
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Unregistered pesticide products (not approved for sale)
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Radioactive materials
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Allowed
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Information about atomic or nuclear testing or energy
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Warning badges or warning signs for radioactive material
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Restricted
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Watches or gun sights that contain only a trace amount of radioactive material
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Natural ore samples that have trace amounts of radioactivity
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Not allowed
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Atomic or nuclear blast items (such as hot rocks, items from a blast or testing zone and Trinitite)
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Items considered problematic by the HSE’s Nuclear Directorate and that the Nuclear Directorate has asked to be removed from Buy N Sell LOCAL
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Items described in a listing as radioactive
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Radioactive waste or contaminated materials
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Tritium in large amounts (such as certain types of glow sticks and exit signs)
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Other hazardous materials
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Allowed
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Class 1 and Class 2 Handheld lasers 1 milliwatt (mW ) or less of power
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Restricted
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Undeployed airbags contained within the body of the steering wheel or removable seats of passenger cars or mini-buses.
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(Permitted) lighters may be listed only if they are equipped with a child-resistant mechanism. Also find out which lighters you’re not allowed to sell below.
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Not allowed
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Deployed airbags, airbags not contained within the steering wheel or removable seats of passenger cars or mini-buses, and safety belt pretensioners designed to activate as part of an airbag safety system
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The following batteries including but not limited to:
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Alkaline-manganese batteries
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Mercuric oxide button batteries (button-shaped batteries typically used in vintage camera equipment)
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Lighters which breach EU or International regulations, including:
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Child appealing or novelty lighters. For a definition of novelty lighters please see Additional Information below.
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Items that pose a health or safety hazard as specified by government agencies. We will remove listings at the request of government agencies
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Additional Information
For more information about the ban of novelty lighters in the EU, visit:http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/archive/cons_safe/prod_safe/gpsd/lighters/guidelines.pdf
Novelty lighters are defined as:
“A flame-producing product commonly used by consumers to ignite cigarettes, cigars and pipes, including any holder which can be incorporated later or any attachment which can be fixed later, that resembles by any means to another object commonly recognised as appealing to or intended for use by children younger than 51 months, or has entertaining audio effects or animated effects. A novelty lighter can operate on any fuel, including butane or liquid fuel. This includes, but is not limited to, lighters or holders that are clearly intended to hold lighters, the shape of which resembles cartoon characters, toys, guns, watches, telephones, musical instruments, vehicles, human body or parts of the human body, animals, food or beverages, or that play musical notes, or have flashing lights or moving objects or other entertaining features. This excludes lighters that are printed or decorated with logos, labels, decals, artwork or heat shrinkable sleeves.”
Why does Buy N Sell LOCAL have this policy?
For health and safety reasons, we don’t allow the selling of most hazardous materials on Buy N Sell LOCAL. We’re also doing our part to comply with government regulations and to ensure that Buy N Sell LOCAL users follow all postal and transport guidelines from Royal Mail and Gov.uk(UK).
Sellers are required by law to report any suspicious transactions to the UK national contact point on 0800 789321. Please visit the Gov.uk website with guidance about supplying explosives precursors.
For more information, please visit the following links:
