Planning permission for farms

When you need it

Farms are covered by the same planning regulations as other types of property. Some planning rules include special conditions for agricultural buildings and land.

You need planning permission if:

you want to change how you use your land or buildings from farming to something else

you want to build a house on the land

You will also usually need planning permission if you are applying for a grant to fund a project that needs a building or other development.

When you don’t need it

You don’t need planning permission:

for farming operations

to use buildings already on your land for farming purposes

to change the inside of a building, or make small alterations to the outside - eg installing an alarm box

if there are permitted development rights

Before starting work on the project, always check with:

your local planning authority in England and Wales

your local planning authority in Scotland

you local area planning office in Northern Ireland

If you don’t get planning permission when you need it you may have to stop work on the development or demolish it.

Apply for planning permission

In England and Wales, you can apply online at the Planning Portal.

In Scotland you can apply online at ePlanning Scotland.

In Northern Ireland, you apply for planning permission to your local area planning office.

Permitted development

Permitted development means that if your farm is 5 hectares or more, you have the right to:

erect, extend or alter a building

carry out excavations and engineering operations needed for agricultural purposes - though you may still require approval for certain details of the development.

The types of permitted development include:

temporary uses of land

agricultural buildings below a certain size

forestry buildings

caravan sites and related buildings in some circumstances

Check with your local planning authority (or local area planning office in Northern Ireland) before making use of permitted development rights to make sure your development won’t need planning permission.

The Agricultural Document Library (ADLib) has policy planning guidance on permitted development and farms.

Appeals

The way you appeal and the deadlines for appealing are different depending on which country you’re in. See the relevant planning guide for more information:

England and Wales

Scotland


Register land with the Rural Land Register

Overview

You must use the Rural Land Register (RLR) to register agricultural land.

You can register any type of land or property with HM Land Registry.

You must register your land with both the RLR and HM Land Registry to claim from most land-based funding schemes, including:

Environmental Stewardship schemes

the English Woodland Grant Scheme

Register with your local Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (RPID) office if your land is in Scotland.

What to register

You only need to register land that you want to claim payments on. This includes land that:

you farm

qualifies for land-based payment schemes, for example because it has environmental value

What you’ll get

You’ll get a complete set of maps showing your registered land.

Who can register

Customer registration

You need to register as a customer with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) before you register your land. You’ll need to tell them:

the name and address of your business

who is legally responsible for your business

the address of your land, including the grid reference or postcode

who your main contact person should be and what powers they should have

The main contact person can be yourself, a person legally responsible for your business or someone independent (an agent).

You can give an agent full powers (empowerment) to deal with your land registration or partial powers (for example, they can access information but not change it).

The Rural Payments Agency has produced a leaflet about the different levels of empowerment you can give your contact person.

Call the RPA to give this information for the first time or change existing contact details for your business.

You’ll receive a Single Business Identifier for your business, and each person will get a Personal Identifier. You’ll need these to register your land.

Landlords and tenants

Either the landlord or the tenant can register land on the Rural Land Register, but the land can only be registered once.

However, it’s possible for the landlord to claim funds under one land scheme and their tenant to claim under another.

How to register land or change a registration

You can use the RLE1 form to:

register new land for the first time

make changes to land already on the Rural Land Register, for example if the boundaries change or if you sell the land to someone else

Fill in the form and post it to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). You can either download the form below or ask the RPA to send you a pre-printed copy.

You’ll need to give your Single Business Identifier - you’ll get this when you complete the customer registration process for the first time.

You also need to enclose a map with a visible scale if you’re registering land for the first time, or if your boundaries have changed. Mark your land boundaries clearly with a fine-tipped pen.

Read the guidance on filling out form RLE1.

Contacting the RPA

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

The Rural Land Register only covers land in England.

If your land is in more than one country, you’ll need to register each piece of land separately for each country.

Contact the Rural Payments Agency if you have land in more than one country and have questions about your land in England.

Use the numbers below if you have land in more than one country and have questions about land in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales.

Land in Scotland

Land in Northern Ireland

Land in Wales

Find out about call charges.


Report a suspected problem with an animal medicine or microchip

Overview

You can report an unexpected reaction to an animal medicine or microchip to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). You can also report if an animal medicine has not worked.

How you report the reaction depends on whether:

an animal has reacted to animal medicine or to a microchip

a human has reacted to animal medicine

VMD will use the information you provide to help make sure that animal medicines and microchips are used safely and effectively.

Report an animal's reaction to animal medicine

You can report when a medicine may not have worked, or could have made your animal unwell.

You’ll be asked for details of:

the medicine, including batch number and marketing authorisation number if known

the animal that was affected, for example the species, breed and age

when and how the medicine was first given to the animal

the symptoms

Send your report

If you cannot report online

Download and fill in the form for reporting reactions in animals. Send it to the address on the form.

Report an animal's reaction to a microchip

You can report suspected incidents with animal microchips including:

a reaction to the chip being implanted, such as injury, infection or prolonged bleeding

if a chip’s moved from where it was implanted or has come out

a chip that does not read properly

You’ll need the microchip number to make a report.

Send your report

Contact VMD if you cannot report the incident online.

Report a person's reaction to animal medicine

You can report a suspected reaction you or someone else has had to an animal medicine while using it on an animal, for example a skin allergy.

You’ll be asked for details of:

the medicine, including the batch number and marketing authorisation number (if you know it)

the people affected - and how and when they came into contact with the medicine

the symptoms

Send your report

If you cannot report online

Download and fill in the form for reporting reactions in humans. Send it to the address on the form.

Contact VMD

Contact the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) Pharmacovigilance Team if you have any questions about reporting reactions.


Apply to register a trade mark

Register a trade mark

You can register your trade mark to protect your brand, for example the name of your product or service.

When you register your trade mark, you’ll be able to:

take legal action against anyone who uses your brand without your permission, including counterfeiters

put the ® symbol next to your brand - to show that it’s yours and warn others against using it

sell and license your brand

How to register a trade mark

Check if your brand qualifies as a trade mark.

Apply to register your trade mark.

Respond to any objections.

The registration process takes about 4 months if no-one objects. Registered trade marks last 10 years.

Register your trade mark overseas

Registering a trade mark in the UK only protects your brand in the UK.

There are different processes for registering EU and international trade marks.

What you can and cannot register

Your trade mark must be unique. It can include:

words

sounds

logos

colours

a combination of any of these

Your trade mark cannot:

be offensive, for example contain swear words or pornographic images

describe the goods or services it will relate to, for example the word ‘cotton’ cannot be a trade mark for a cotton textile company

be misleading, for example use the word ‘organic’ for goods that are not organic

be a 3-dimensional shape associated with your trade mark, for example the shape of an egg for eggs

be too common and non-distinctive, for example be a simple statement like ‘we lead the way’

look too similar to state symbols like flags or hallmarks, based on World Intellectual Property Organization guidelines

Series applications

If you have similar versions of your trade mark, you can make a series application for up to 6 marks.

All your marks should:

look the same

sound the same

mean the same

Any differences must be minor.

Check if your trade mark is already registered

Before you apply, you must search the trade marks database to check if anyone has already registered an identical or similar trade mark for the same or similar goods or services.

You must also check the EU trade marks register on the European Union Intellectual Property Office website for any EU applications that were ‘pending’ on 1 January 2021. These applications have priority over yours.

You can ask the holder of an existing trade mark for permission to register yours. They must give you a ‘letter of consent’ - you must send this letter with your application.

You can use a trade mark attorney to help you with searches and registrations.

Apply

This service will be unavailable from 6am to 4pm on Saturday 26 June.

You cannot change your trade mark once you’ve applied, and the fees are non-refundable.

You’ll get feedback on your application (called an ‘examination report’) within 12 weeks (60 working days).

Before you apply

You must check if your trade mark is already registered.

Read the guide to new applications before you start if you’ve not applied before.

Apply to register a trademark

You’ll need:

details of what you want to register, for example a word, illustration or slogan

the trade mark classes you want to register in, for example food and drink services (class 43) or chemicals (class 1)

Apply now

How much it costs

You can use the ‘Right Start’ service if you want to check your application meets the rules for registration.

You pay £100 initially, plus £50 for each additional class. You’ll then get a report telling you if your application meets the rules.

If you want to continue, you must pay the full fee within 28 days of getting your report.

You can also choose to continue your application even if it does not meet the rules for registration.

| Fee | Each additional class

Standard application (online) | £170 | £50

Right Start application (online) | £200 (£100 up front plus £100 if you go ahead with your registration) | £50 (£25 up front plus £25 if you go ahead with your registration)

A series application for 3 or more marks costs an additional £50 per mark.

Other ways to apply

Fill in the paper forms if you want to apply by post. It costs £200 for one class plus £50 for each additional class.

After you apply

You’ll get feedback on your application (an ‘examination report’) in up to 12 weeks (60 working days) - you have 2 months to resolve any problems.

If the examiner has no objections your application will be published in the trade marks journal for 2 months, during which time anyone can oppose it.

Your trade mark will be registered once any objections are resolved - you’ll get a certificate to confirm this.

If your application is opposed

The Intellectual Property Office will tell you if someone opposes your application.

You can either:

withdraw your application

talk to the person making the opposition

defend your application

You cannot register your trade mark until the matter is settled and may have to pay legal costs if you want to challenge the opposing party.

Read guidance on your options following an opposition.

Research previous trade mark decisions to help you with a dispute and prepare for a hearing.

Once your trade mark is registered

You must report any changes to your name, address or email address.

You can object to other people’s trade marks, for example if you think they are identical or similar to yours.

You can sell, market, license and mortgage your trade mark.

Your trade mark will last 10 years - you can renew it after that time.

Unregistered trade marks

You may be able to stop someone using a similar trade mark to yours on their goods and services (known as ‘passing off’), even if you have not registered it.

You’ll usually need to get legal advice from a trade mark attorney.

It’s harder to prove passing off than it is to defend a registered trade mark. To be successful you’ll need to show that:

the mark is yours

you’ve built up goodwill associated with the mark

you’ve been harmed in some way by the other person’s use of the mark


Defend your intellectual property

Overview

It’s your responsibility to defend your intellectual property (IP) and to take action if someone’s used it without permission (known as ‘infringement’).

Examples of IP infringement include when someone:

uses, sells or imports your patented product or process

uses all or some of your work under copyright without your permission

makes, offers or sells your registered design for commercial gain

uses a trade mark that’s identical or similar to one you’ve registered

You can take the following steps.

Get the other party to stop using your IP or come to an agreement with them, for example license your IP.

Use mediation or another type of dispute resolution.

Take legal action if you can’t resolve the dispute by other means.

You may want to get help from an IP professional, such as a solicitor. The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) can also help.

Report IP crime

It can be a criminal offence to copy or use copyright material and registered trade marks and designs without permission.

Report suspected IP crime to Trading Standards by contacting Citizens Advice.

You can also report it anonymously through:

Crimestoppers

Action Fraud

Get help and advice

An intellectual property (IP) professional can give you legal advice on a dispute, or act on your behalf.

Find an IP professional through organisations including:

The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys

The Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys

The Law Society (England and Wales)

The Law Society of Scotland

The Law Society of Northern Ireland

Contact the Intellectual Property Office (IPO)

You can contact IPO for:

an opinion on whether your patent or supplementary protection certificate is being infringed - it costs £200

to start legal proceedings over some types of IP dispute (this does not include copyright infringement)

general advice on IP

Come to an agreement

If someone is using your IP without your permission you can contact them and ask them to stop.

You can be sued for making unjustified threats. You may want to seek legal advice before contacting the other party.

Make a deal

You can offer to make a deal with the other party, which is usually cheaper and quicker than going to court.

Read the guidance on how to license, sell, mortgage and market your:

copyright

patent

design

trade mark

You can also come to a coexistence agreement with someone who has a similar trade mark.

Use a mediator

You can use a mediator if you can’t come to an agreement over an intellectual property (IP) dispute.

Mediation can be used in most IP disputes. This includes disputes about:

trade marks

copyright

designs

patents

Mediation is a way of resolving disputes without going to court. It’s cheaper and quicker than taking legal action and the outcome is usually beneficial to all parties.

Mediators provide an independent view on a dispute. They can’t make a decision for you, but they can help to find a solution that both parties accept.

Discussions with a mediator are confidential and can’t be used in court later if the dispute isn’t resolved.

IPO mediation service

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has its own mediation service.

What you will pay for mediation depends on the type and length of mediation session.

Read guidance on IPO’s mediation service, including information on fees.

Other mediators you can use

You can also use the:

Civil Mediation Council (England and Wales)

Scottish Mediation Network

Northern Ireland Mediation

Take legal action

You can file legal proceedings either through the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) or through the courts.

Some types of proceedings can only be filed through one or the other. For example, copyright infringement claims can only be filed through the courts.

A court will expect you to have tried to resolve your dispute - possibly using mediation - before starting legal proceedings.

You can pay an Intellectual Property Professional to help you.

File through IPO

Contact IPO for more information on filing through them.

File through the courts in England and Wales

The court you go to depends on the nature, complexity and value of your claim.

Claims below £10,000

Use the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) small claims track if your claim is for  less than £10,000 and for infringement of one of the following:

copyright

passing off

trade marks

breach of confidence

unregistered design rights

You don’t need a lawyer to use the IPEC small claims track.

Claims up to £500,000

You can take a case for any IP right to the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) if you do not wish to claim more than:

£50,000 for legal costs

£500,000 for damages

If you’re claiming more than £500,000 in damages

Use the Chancery Division of the High Court of England and Wales - there are no limits to legal costs or damages you can claim.

File through the courts in Scotland

Use the Court of Session if your claim is complex or valuable - there are no limits to legal costs or damages you can claim.

File through the courts in Northern Ireland

You can use the Chancery Division of the High Court of Northern Ireland if your claim is complex or valuable - there are no limits to legal costs or damages you can claim.


Get copies of patent, trade mark or design registration documents

Overview

You can get copies of documents if you need to prove who owns or has applied for a UK patent, trade mark or design registration.

There are 2 types of copy – certified and uncertified.

Certified copy

This is an official document, also called a Certificate of the Registrar.

You need a certified copy to:

register a piece of intellectual property (IP) outside the UK

prove legal ownership of intellectual property, such as in a court case

Uncertified copy

An uncertified copy is a photocopy or digital copy of the details on the register. You can use this for research or personal use.

Request patent documents

Use patents form 23 to apply for either a certified or uncertified copy of a patent.

You must send a separate form for each certified copy you need, but you can make multiple requests on one form.

Fill in the form and post it. The address is on the form.

You can request uncertified copies of patent documents online.

How much they cost

Certified copies cost £20 each.

Uncertified copies cost £5.

Uncertified copies by email cost a £5 set fee and £1.20 per page.

Request trade marks documents

Use form TM31R to get a certified copy of a trade mark.

Certified copies cost £20 each.

Uncertified copies

Send an email to Intellectual Property Office (IPO) sales including:

the trade mark number

your telephone number

the address you want the photocopy sent to

Uncertified copies usually cost £5 - large documents may cost more.

After you email, you’ll get a quote and instructions on how you pay.

Request design registration documents

Use form DF23 to request a certified copy of a design registration or application.

You should use one form for each certified copy you’re requesting.

Certified copies cost £30 each.

Uncertified copies

the design number

your telephone number


How copyright protects your work

Overview

Copyright protects your work and stops others from using it without your permission.

You get copyright protection automatically - you don’t have to apply or pay a fee. There isn’t a register of copyright works in the UK.

You automatically get copyright protection when you create:

original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic work, including illustration and photography

original non-literary written work, such as software, web content and databases

sound and music recordings

film and television recordings

broadcasts

the layout of published editions of written, dramatic and musical works

You can mark your work with the copyright symbol (©), your name and the year of creation. Whether you mark the work or not doesn’t affect the level of protection you have.

How copyright protects your work

Copyright prevents people from:

copying your work

distributing copies of it, whether free of charge or for sale

renting or lending copies of your work

performing, showing or playing your work in public

making an adaptation of your work

putting it on the internet

Copyright overseas

Your work could be protected by copyright in other countries through international agreements, for example the Berne Convention.

In most countries copyright lasts a minimum of life plus 50 years for most types of written, dramatic and artistic works, and at least 25 years for photographs. It can be different for other types of work.

Contact the IPO Information Centre if you have a question about international copyright.

How long copyright lasts

Copyright protection starts as soon as a work is created. Once your copyright has expired, anyone can use or copy your work.

The length of copyright depends on the type of work.

Type of work | How long copyright usually lasts

Written, dramatic, musical and artistic work | 70 years after the author’s death

Sound and music recording | 70 years from when it’s first published

Films | 70 years after the death of the director, screenplay author and composer

Broadcasts | 50 years from when it’s first broadcast

Layout of published editions of written, dramatic or musical works | 25 years from when it’s first published

The length of copyright also depends on how long ago the work was created.

You can read more guidance about how long copyright lasts.

Contact the IPO Information Centre if you have questions about the copyright of an older work.

License and sell your copyright

You can license the use of your work if you own the copyright. You can also decide how your work is used.

You can register your work with a licensing body, for example a collecting society, who will agree licences with users for you and collect royalties for you.

Sell or transfer your copyright

You’ll need to write and sign a document (sometimes called an ‘assignment’) to show a sale or transfer has taken place.

Your copyright can be transferred by inheritance and will be valid as long as the work remains in copyright - check how long protection lasts.

Moral rights

You can keep or waive your ‘moral rights’, which include the right to:

be identified as the author of your work

object to how the work is presented, for example if you think it’s ‘derogatory’ or damaging to you or your reputation

object to changes made to your work

Performers’ rights

You have rights in your performances separate to copyright if you’re a performer.

For example, if you’re an actor in a play you may have ‘economic rights’ in any recordings or broadcasts of their performance, even if the copyright is sold.

Stop people using your work

You’re responsible for defending your copyright material against infringement.

Some people or organisations (such as libraries or schools) may be able to use copyright work without permission. You should check whether someone’s use of your work is permitted before trying to stop them.

If you think someone is using your work and they don’t know you own the rights

People or organisations must apply for a licence if they want to use a work that’s covered by copyright but don’t know who the rights holder is.

Check the licences register to see if anyone has licensed your work or is in the process of applying for a licence. If your work is on the register you can:

apply to have an application stopped

claim the licence fee that’s been paid (if a licence has already been issued)

If you have a dispute about licensing

Your collecting society can contact the Copyright Tribunal and ask them to decide on some disputes about licensing.

They can also contact them by post.

Help with copyright law

The IPO Information Centre offers general advice on copyright law.

You can get advice on particular legal issues from an intellectual property (IP) professional.

If you’d like more guidance about an area of copyright law

You can also ask IPO to publish guidance about an area of copyright law.

They might publish a public ‘copyright notice’ if your question highlights a gap in the general copyright guidance.


Patenting your invention

What you can patent

You can use a patent to protect your invention. It gives you the right to take legal action against anyone who makes, uses, sells or imports it without your permission.

To be granted a patent, your invention must be all of the following:

something that can be made or used

new

inventive - not just a simple modification to something that already exists

Patents are expensive and difficult to get. Before you apply, check if a patent is right for your business.

What you cannot patent

You cannot patent certain types of invention, including:

literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works

a way of doing business, playing a game or thinking

a method of medical treatment or diagnosis

a discovery, scientific theory or mathematical method

the way information is presented

some computer programs or mobile apps

‘essentially biological’ processes like crossing-breeding plants, and plant or animal varieties

Before you apply

Patents are the most difficult form of protection to get. Check if a patent is right for your business before you apply for one.

You should only apply for a patent if:

your invention is new - check for similar ones by searching published patents, the internet and trade publications

you have the time and money for the application process

The application process is:

complicated - only 1 in 20 applicants get a patent without professional help

expensive - with professional help, applications typically cost £4,000

long - it usually takes 5 years

If you get a patent, you’ll also have to pay to renew it each year and the costs of legal action if you need to defend it.

Other ways to protect your intellectual property

Other types of protection might be more appropriate for your business. For example, you can use:

trade marks - if you can create a brand and be first to market

design rights - if how your product looks (rather than how it works) is important and innovative

non-disclosure agreements to keep it secret before launch - this can provide enough protection if your product is likely to sell for only a short time

Getting help

You can get a professional to help you decide whether a patent is right for your business.

You may be able to get free advice by:

speaking to a patent attorney or other professional advisor - many offer basic advice for free

attending an intellectual property (IP) clinic

going to the British Library Business and IP Centre in London

This advice will be confidential.

Do not talk to other people without a non-disclosure agreement, or you may not be able to patent your invention. You can get help with this from a patent attorney or solicitor.

If you decide to apply

When you’ve checked that a patent is right for your business, you should find a patent attorney or advisor. They will:

help you prepare your application correctly - you cannot add in additional information later

give you the best chance of being granted a patent

try to make your patent as commercially valuable as possible

You may be approached by companies offering to promote your invention for a fee. Get independent legal or financial advice before you agree to anything.

Applying for a patent

If you work with a patent attorney or advisor, they’ll help you through the application process. Applications typically cost £4,000 and the process usually takes 5 years. There are 8 steps if you apply for patent protection in the UK through the Intellectual Property Office (IPO).

Search for similar patents to make sure your invention is new.

Prepare your patent application.

File your patent application and request a search from IPO.

Receive your search report (usually within 6 months) and decide whether you want to continue with your application.

Your application will be published 18 months after you file it.

Ask for a ‘substantive examination’ within 6 months of publication.

Respond to comments from IPO’s ‘substantive examination’. The examination may take place several years after you file your application.

Your application will be granted or refused.

You can commercially benefit from your patent once it has been granted, for example license, sell or mortgage your patent.

Do not make your invention public before you apply. You may not be able to patent it if you do.

Other ways to get a UK patent

You can also file a UK patent application through the:

European Patent Office (EPO)

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Prepare your application

A patent application is made up of 4 parts that need to meet specific criteria.

You must include:

a description of your invention that allows others to see how it works and how it could be made

legal statements that set out the technical features of your invention that are to be protected (known as ‘claims’)

a summary of all the important technical aspects of your invention (known as the ‘abstract’)

You should also include any drawings you need to illustrate your description.

The fees are higher if your description has more than 35 pages or you include more than 25 claims.

You have to submit your description and any drawings with your application form.

You can file your claims and abstract once your patent is pending, but it’s best if you submit all the parts together.

Academic papers

You can send academic papers as part of your patent application, to help describe your invention.

You still need to send a description, drawings and claims.

‘Statement of inventorship’

You need to complete a statement of inventorship if:

you’re not the inventor

there’s more than one inventor and they’re not listed as applicants

you’re applying on behalf of a company

The statement provides the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) with more information about who the inventor is and why you have the right to apply for the patent.

Submit your ‘statement of inventorship’ online when you apply for a patent, or do it later by filing documents for a pending UK patent.

Alternatively, download the ‘statement of inventorship’ form and send it with your application.

Apply for a patent

You can file a UK patent application with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). Read the patent application fact sheets for instructions on how to produce each part of your application.

You can apply either:

online

by post

You can request and pay for your search and examination at this point or later in the process.

Fees

Stage | Apply online | Apply by post

Application (if you pay when you apply) | £60 | £90

Application (if you pay later) | £75 | £112.50

Search | £150 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims) | £180 (plus £20 for each claim over 25 claims)

Substantive examination | £100 (plus £10 for each page of description over 35 pages) | £130 (plus £10 for each page of description over 35 pages)

If you get a patent, you’ll also have to pay to renew it to keep it in force.

Get your patent granted more quickly

You can get your application processed more quickly if you file your search and examination requests at the same time as you apply.

This costs the same as applying separately and means they’ll be processed at the same time.

You may also be able to get a ‘fast grant’ if, for example:

your invention has some sort of environmental benefit (green channel)

you’ve already submitted a patent application for your invention at another patent office (Patent Prosecution Highway)

Read the patents fast grant guidance.

Request your search and examination

As part of the application process, you must pay for a patent search and a ‘substantive examination’.

You can request the search either when you apply or later in the process.

You must request your search within 12 months of your filing or priority date.

You must request your examination within 6 months of publication.

Patent search

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) carries out a search to check whether your invention is new and inventive.

You have to request and pay for your search within 12 months of your filing date or priority date.

You’ll be sent the results and told if any part of your application is not right.

Read the search report factsheet.

Search reports can take up to 6 months.

Publication

Your application will be published 18 months from your filing or priority date, provided it’s complete and passes the search.

The open part of your application, which includes your address, will be publicly available in the:

online patents journal on the IPO website

IPO records

‘Substantive examination’

The examination checks whether your invention is new and inventive enough. It also checks that your description and claims match and are good enough to patent.

The examination will show if your application meets the legal requirements. You’ll be told what you need to do if it does not.

You must request an examination of your patent application within 6 months of publication.

Examinations can take place several years after you file your application.

How to apply

You can apply online or by post for both the search and examination.

Apply online

You can request your search and examination either:

with your initial application

later in the process

You must request your search within 12 months of your filing or priority date and examination within 6 months of publication.

Apply by post

Download the forms:

search request form

examination request form

Fill in and post the forms. The address is on the forms.

After you apply

You’ll be sent a receipt with your application number and filing date (the date your application is received).

You’ll be told what to do next and when.

After you’ve applied you can mark your invention as ‘patent pending’ or ‘patent applied for’. You can either add the patent number and say that you applied for it in the UK, or use a web address instead if the patent number is online.

If you use a web address, make sure the patent number and the product it relates to are clearly displayed on your website.

If your patent is granted:

your application will be published in its final form

you’ll be sent a certificate

You’ll be responsible for renewing and defending your patent.

File more documents once your patent is pending

You may need to file more forms and documents once you have a patent pending (for example a form to request a search, or a document with your claims).

You must send your claims, abstract, application fee and search fee within 12 months of your filing date.

If your application includes a ‘priority date’ from an earlier application

You must send your claims, abstract, application fee and search fee within whichever of the following is later:

12 months of the date when you filed your previous application (the priority date)

2 months of your current filing date

Withdraw your application

You can withdraw your application for any reason, for example to stop it becoming public.

To stop your invention entering the public domain you must withdraw your application before it’s published.

You can ask for a withdrawal up to the day before the deadline given in your search report.

Withdraw by email

Email withdraw@ipo.gov.uk with your patent application number in the subject line.

Clearly state that you want to withdraw in the body of the email.

State why you have the authority to withdraw the application, for example that you’re the applicant or their agent.

Withdraw by post

You can also withdraw by post - mark your request as urgent if there’s less than 3 weeks until publication.

Make a new application with a priority date

You can withdraw your application and reapply if you want to change it for any reason, for example if you’ve developed your invention since you first applied or have new information.

You can use the filing date of your earlier application (known as the priority date) if your new application is made within 12 months.

Terminated applications

Your application will be terminated if you do not submit the right documents, forms and payment when asked to.

You may be able to reopen your application if you apply within 12 months of termination.

You need to be able to show:

why you failed to meet the requirements

that the failure was not intentional

when you became able to meet the requirements

It costs £150 to apply - this is not refundable.

Reopen your application

Download the reinstatement request form.

Send the form, your fee and any supporting evidence to IPO.

If your request is granted, you must meet the requirements within 2 months.

You can ask for an ex parte hearing if you’re turned down, where you can put your case to a senior official.

International patents

A patent only protects your invention in the country where the patent is registered.

For protection overseas, you can:

file a single application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) for protection in more than 140 countries

file a single application with the European Patent Office (EPO) for protection in more than 30 countries in Europe

apply separately to the patent office of each country where you want a patent

Read the guidance on filing a patent abroad for basic information on filing for international protection.


Register a design

Check if you can register your design

You can register the look of a product you’ve designed to stop people copying or stealing it.

The look of your design includes the:

appearance

physical shape

configuration (or how different parts of a design are arranged together)

decoration

What you’ll get

Registering your design:

protects any aspect of your design, for example both the product’s shape and decoration

gives you the right to prevent others from using it for up to 25 years - you have to renew your registered design every 5 years

makes taking legal action against infringement and copying more straightforward

Once registered you can display your registration number on your design.

Shapes of objects may already be automatically protected by design right, but it’s easier to protect your design if you register it.

What you can and cannot register

To register your design, it must:

be new

not be offensive (for example feature graphic images or words)

be your own intellectual property

not make use of protected emblems or flags (for example the Olympic rings or the Royal Crown)

not be an invention or how a product works - you’ll need a patent instead

You cannot protect the functionality of a design - for example a chair that folds down more quickly than others of the same kind.

Search the registers

Search all of the following design registers to check if your design is unique:

UK-registered designs

EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)

World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)

You can ask the Intellectual Property Office to search for you for £24.

Prepare your illustrations

Your illustrations should:

show the design as it appears to the eye, using photographs, line drawings, computer-aided design (CAD) or rendered CAD

show the design against a plain background, with no details hidden by shadows or reflections

not contain text, measurements or other technical information

not contain more than one view of the design

not include anything that is not part of the design, for example another object or your hand

be the same type, not a mixture (for example, all line drawings or all photographs)

include the complete pattern and enough to show how the pattern repeats, if you want to register a surface pattern

Include up to 12 illustrations if you’re applying online, with one view per file. Apply by post if you need to show more than 12 illustrations.

If you’re applying by post, your illustrations should be on plain A4 paper.

If your application is shown in colour, or contains tonal contrast, the Intellectual Property Office will assume that those elements are intended to form part of your design (unless you’ve added a ‘disclaimer’).

Colour included in these diagrams is used for illustrative purposes only.

You may need to add more information to your illustrations to make it clear what you want to protect.

If you're only registering part of an illustration

You can add more information if you only want to register:

part of your illustration

the shape, not the colour or surface pattern

You can either show or explain:

which parts of an illustration you want to protect - this is called a ‘limitation’

the parts of an illustration you do not want to protect - this is called a ‘disclaimer’

You can do this by ‘greying out’ or circling parts of the illustration, or by adding a line of text.

Apply

Apply online

You can register your design online. It’s cheaper than applying by post.

Number of designs | Fee

One | £50

Up to 10 | £70

Up to 20 | £90

Up to 30 | £110

Up to 40 | £130

Up to 50 | £150

You cannot claim back VAT as the fee is out of scope.

Apply by post

Your application should include the following documents:

a completed application form - read the guidance notes before applying

your prepared illustrations

Number of designs | Fee

One | £60

Each additional design | £40

After you’ve applied

The Intellectual Property Office will examine your application within 8 weeks (40 working days).

If there are no objections and you have not asked to defer your registration, your design will be registered immediately.

If there are any objections, you have 2 months to respond.

You can request a hearing if you:

think your application has been dealt with unfairly

disagree with the decision about your design

Your design will be added to the list of registered designs and made public. You can choose for it not to be made public by deferring your registration.

Send forms and responses

Send all forms, changes to your application or hearing requests to:

How long it lasts

You must renew your design registration every 5 years to keep it protected.

Use your design

Once registered you can license, sell or mortgage your design.

Defer your registration

You might want to defer registering your design, for example if you need more time to develop and market your product before it becomes public.

You can ask that your design is not registered for up to 12 months when you apply.

You must register a deferred design within 12 months of applying or your application will be cancelled and you’ll have to reapply, including paying the fee again.

When you’re ready to register your design

Post a deferred design registration form for each design to request registration. The address is on the form.

Your design will be registered from the date you first filed your application.

The fee to register a deferred design is £40.

You will not get the full protection of being registered until your application is registered and published.


Using somebody else's intellectual property

Overview

You can usually get permission to use someone else’s intellectual property (IP) by buying the rights from them or getting their permission to use it.

Using someone’s trade mark, patent, copyright or design without their permission is known as ‘IP infringement’ and could lead to a fine, prison or both.

Read about IP crime and enforcement for more information on the penalties.

Trade marks

To use an existing trade mark you should contact the current owner.

Find the owner of a registered trade mark by searching the trade marks database.

Licensing

A licence is a formal agreement to use someone else’s trade mark. You and the owner must agree the terms of the licence, for example the cost or how long it will last.

When you’ve agreed a licence to use the trade mark, fill in the form to record a licensee and post it. The address is on the form.

Post an application to remove or amend the record of a licence when the licensing agreement ends or if you need to change it.

The owner must sign any form you send, or you must send proof of the agreement with your application.

Each application costs £50.

Buying

You must tell IPO if you become the new owner of a trade mark, for example by buying it or as the result of a company merger.

In some cases the owner may only sell you one part of a trade mark, for example they may not sell the right to register derivative marks. This is known as a ‘partial assignment’.

Use either:

‘Application to record a change of ownership’ form

‘Application to record a partial assignment of goods and/or services’ form

Each application costs £50.

Fill in the form and post it. The address is on the form.

Coexistence agreements

You may be able to use an identical trade mark (for example company name, logo) as someone else by making a coexistence agreement.

This means you agree that both of you can continue to use the trade mark.

Patents

Contact the owner of the patent to see if they’ll:

license it to you

sell it to you

Search the patent databases to find the current owner.

Licensing

Any licence arrangement, including cost, is made directly between you and the patent owner.

You can ask Intellectual Property Office (IPO) for help to resolve patent disputes if you can’t reach an agreement.

IPO can’t decide the exact terms of the licence (for example the price) but can decide:

what can and can’t be part of a licence

if the patent owner must grant you a licence (known as a ‘compulsory licence under a patent’)

Licence of right

A patent with ‘licence of right’, means that the patent owners will give anyone a licence to use it.

You must still agree with the owner on the terms of the licence before you can use the patent.

You can ask IPO for help if you can’t reach agreement.

Registering your licence

Register a licence agreement (or changes to an existing licence, for example cancellation) by filling in Patents form 21. Send it to the address on the form.

You can use the form to record licences on more than one patent. It costs £50 for each form you submit.

Buying a patent

When someone sells you a patent they must transfer ownership to you.

You need a written document to record the transfer. This is known as an ‘assignment’ and must be signed by the person selling the patent.

A solicitor can help you draw up this document.

Fill in Patents form 21 and return it to the address on the form. Include a copy of your assignment.

Copyright

You can’t copy or use copyright material without permission. For example, you can’t buy a painting and then use copies of it for a book cover, or buy a CD and use a track from it in a film.

To use something protected by copyright you must either:

agree a licence with the owner to use it

buy or acquire the copyright

confirm that your intended use falls within the exceptions to copyright

Finding a copyright owner

A person can give permission if they are:

the person who made it (the creator), or their family or heirs

the creator’s employer, if it was created it as part of the creator’s job

a person who bought, acquired or licensed the rights

an organisation representing the copyright owner

You may be able to find out who owns copyright from Writers, Artists and their copyright holders (WATCH).

If you can’t find out who the copyright owner is check if you need a licence to use the work.

Licensing

You must agree the terms of an agreement with the current owner to use all or part of copyright works.

The licence agreement may allow you to use it for one or more specified purposes and may apply only for a limited time or in specific places.

Exclusive use

You’ll be the only person able to use something for the duration of the agreement.

This includes the copyright owner, who won’t be able to use it themselves while the agreement is in place.

Limited use

You’ll only be given permission to use something for one or more specific reasons, for example publishing a photograph in one edition of a magazine or using a song as the theme for one series of a TV show.

You need to agree another licence if you want to use the material for something else.

Creative Commons licence

Some copyright owners release work under a Creative Commons licence.

You must check what kind of use the licence allows.

Buying copyright

When you buy copyright the person you’re buying from transfers the copyright to you.

Once you own the copyright to something you can use it for anything you like, without the creator’s express permission, as long as you respect their moral rights.

You must have a written agreement, signed by the copyright owner, stating that they have transferred ownership of the copyright to you.

Moral rights

The creator may still have certain rights regarding how their work is used even if you’ve bought the copyright.

Authors, playwrights, composers, artists and film directors have the moral right:

to be recognised as the creator of the work when copies are made available to the public

to object to the work being altered in a way that has negative effect on their reputation

to not have someone else’s work falsely attributed to them

Performers, such as actors or dancers, have the moral right:

to be recognised as the performer of the piece

to object to the performance being altered in a way that is damaging to their reputation

The creator or performer of a piece of work to which you own the copyright must tell you if they want to exercise these rights.

They can choose whether or not to use their moral rights.

Moral rights can’t be sold or transferred in the same way as copyright. They last for as long as the piece of work is covered by copyright.

Performers’ rights

Performers, for example in films or broadcasts, may still have ‘economic rights’ to some copyright material, even if you’ve bought the copyright.

For example, if you’ve bought the copyright to a filmed recording of a play you may still have to pay the actors if you broadcast it.

Permitted use of copyright works

You may not need permission if you’re using a copyright work for the following reasons:

non-commercial research and private study

criticism, review and reporting current events

teaching in educational establishments

helping disabled people

recording for use at a later date

You may not need permission if you only want to use a ‘less than a substantial’ part of a copyright protected work. This is decided on a case by case basis.

Generally something won’t be less than a substantial part if it could be seen as an important part of the work, for example a frame from a film or the conclusions of a report.

Get legal advice from an intellectual property professional before using copyrighted material, if you’re in any doubt.

Read the guidance on exceptions to copyright for detailed information.

Designs

To use a registered design you must contact the current owner and either agree a licence to use the design or buy it from them.

The licence between you and the design’s owner will tell you:

what you can do with the design

how long your licence will last

what you have to pay - if anything

You can do anything with a design that you’ve bought.

Fill in and send form DF12A to register a licence or transfer ownership of the design - the address is on the form.

There’s no fee.


Classify different types of waste

Overview

You must identify and classify your waste before you send it for recycling or disposal. This makes sure you or anyone handling your waste deals with it properly.

There are special rules for dealing with hazardous waste or disposing of waste with a high level of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), (known as ‘POPs waste’).

Filling in waste transfer or consignment notes

You must describe your waste in the paperwork you give your waste contractor. This must include:

the waste classification code, also referred to as LoW (List of Waste) or EWC (European Waste Catalogue) code - classification codes for common types of waste are in the relevant parts of this guidance

whether it’s hazardous or POPs waste

the type of premises or business where the waste was produced

the name of the substance or substances

the process that produced the waste

a chemical and physical analysis of the waste and its components

any special problems, requirements or knowledge related to the waste

If you cannot find a code for your waste

Check the technical guidance on waste, it includes more information about waste classification and assessing waste.

You must not use landfill waste acceptance criteria (WAC) results for waste classification purposes.

How to find out if your waste is hazardous or POPs waste

In most cases you can check the waste code or codes associated with your waste to see if they are hazardous and POPs waste. You must make sure your waste contractor can dispose of this waste properly.

Some waste items have more than one classification, depending on the possible mix of substances in them.

In these cases you must work out exactly what is in your waste, and how much of it is hazardous or POPs.

Check the manufacturers’ product safety data sheets for this information or carry out an assessment.

Many products include orange and black danger symbols or red and white hazard pictograms to indicate they’re hazardous.

Some products (for example cosmetics and medicines) are not normally labelled with hazard symbols - check the product’s safety data sheet.

Read the technical guidance on waste and guidance on dealing with POPs waste) for more information on checking for hazardous substances and POPs.

Mixing waste

It’s illegal to mix hazardous or POPs waste with either non-hazardous or another hazardous waste.

Check how to mix and store hazardous waste.

You will usually need more than one code if you store more than one type of non-hazardous waste in your container.

If you need more help

Get advice from a specialist waste contractor if you’re not sure whether it’s hazardous or not.

For more information, contact the Environment Agency.

Construction and demolition waste

The tables below list waste codes for common construction and demolition waste.

You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these codes in the technical guidance on waste.

Insulation and asbestos materials

| Waste status | Waste code

Insulation containing asbestos | Hazardous | 17-06-01*

Other insulation containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-06-03*

Other insulation materials | Non-hazardous | 17-06-04

Other construction materials containing asbestos | Hazardous | 17-06-05*

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics

This list excludes asbestos-containing materials - refer to the insulation and asbestos materials table for any waste with asbestos.

| Waste status | Waste code

Concrete | Non-hazardous | 17-01-01

Bricks | Non-hazardous | 17-01-02

Tiles and ceramics | Non-hazardous | 17-01-03

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics (alone or in mixtures) containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-01-06*

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics in mixtures, containing no hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 17-01-07

Wood, glass and plastic

This list excludes packaging wastes and domestic type recyclables - refer to the packaging section for related codes.

| Waste status | Waste code

Wood - untreated | Non-hazardous | 17-02-01

Glass - uncontaminated | Non-hazardous | 17-02-02

Plastic - excludes packaging waste | Non-hazardous | 17-02-03

Treated wood, glass, plastic (alone or in mixtures) containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-02-04*

Bituminous mixtures, coal tar and tar

| Waste status | Waste code

Bituminous mixtures containing coal tar | Hazardous | 17-03-01*

Other bituminous mixtures | Non-hazardous | 17-03-02

Coal tar and tarred products | Hazardous | 17-03-03*

Metallic waste, including cable

| Waste status | Waste code

Copper, bronze and brass | Non-hazardous | 17-04-01

Aluminium | Non-hazardous | 17-04-02

Lead | Non-hazardous | 17-04-03

Iron and steel | Non-hazardous | 17-04-05

Tin | Non-hazardous | 17-04-06

Mixed metals | Non-hazardous | 17-04-07

Metals containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-04-09*

Cables containing oil, coal tar and other hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-04-10*

Other cables | Non-hazardous | 17-04-11

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Soil, contaminated soil, stones and dredging spoil

You must be able to prove that your waste does not contain any hazardous substances to classify soil as non-hazardous - you’ll always need to assess the soil before you hand it over to be collected.

The presence of any fragments of asbestos-containing material in the soil results in a mixed hazardous waste - refer to the insulation and asbestos materials table for more guidance.

| Waste status | Waste code

Soil and stones containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-05-03*

Other soil and stones | Non-hazardous | 17-05-04

Dredging spoil containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-05-05*

Other dredging spoil | Non-hazardous | 17-05-06

Gypsum

| Waste status | Waste code

Gypsum materials containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-08-01*

Other gypsum materials | Non-hazardous | 17-08-02

Cement

| Waste status | Waste code

Un-used or un-set cement | Hazardous | 17-09-03*

Paints and varnishes

Paints and varnishes of a type normally used by householders can be classified under the codes indicated in brackets if separated out from other waste.

| Waste status | Waste code

Containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Hazardous | 08-01-11* (20-01-27*)

Not containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 08-01-12 (20-01-28)

Paint or varnish remover | Hazardous | 08-01-21*

Paint cans | Hazardous | Refer to packaging waste and recyclables section

Adhesives and sealants

Adhesives and sealants of a type normally used by householders can be classified under the codes indicated in brackets if separated out from other waste.

| Waste status | Waste code

Containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Hazardous | 08-04-09* (20-01-27*)

Not containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 08-04-10 (20-01-28)

Adhesive or sealant containers | Hazardous | Refer to packaging waste and recyclables section

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Packaging waste and recyclables

The tables below list waste codes for common packaging and domestic type recyclable wastes.

Containers must be empty to be classified as packaging waste.

| Waste status | Plastic | Metal | Paper and cardboard | Glass | Textiles

Clean packaging | Non-hazardous | 15-01-02 | 15-01-04 | 15-01-01 | 15-01-07 | 15-01-09

Other clean material, unmixed - excluding packaging | Non-hazardous | 20-01-39 | 20-01-40 | 20-01-01 | 20-01-02 | 20-01-11

Mixed clean material - including packaging | Non-hazardous | 15-01-02 and 20-01-39 | 15-01-04 and 20-01-40 | 15-01-01 and 20-01-01 | 15-01-07 and 20-01-02 | 15-01-09 and 20-01-10

Empty packaging contaminated with residues of hazardous substances, for example paint cans, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) and drums | Hazardous | 15-01-10* | 15-01-10* | 15-01-10* | 15-01-10* | 15-01-10*

Empty packaging contaminated with residues of non-hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 15-01-02 | 15-01-04 | 15-01-01 | 15-01-07 | 15-01-09

Electronic and electrical equipment

These tables list common waste codes for batteries, lightbulbs and electrical devices.

You need to include all relevant classification codes if you place waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) that would be assigned different codes in the same container.

Hazardous substances or persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in waste electricals

WEEE often has components that contain hazardous substances or persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These could include:

printed circuit boards

plastic casings, cables and other components

insulation foam

cooling agents

flame retardants

activated glass and screen phosphors

cathode ray tubes

capacitors

Ni-Cd batteries

If the levels of hazardous substances or POPs are over a certain amount the item will be classified as hazardous or POPs waste.

If your WEEE is POPs waste you cannot reuse or recycle it.

There are special rules about:

where you can export WEEE that contains POPs

dealing with hazardous waste

disposing of POPs waste

If you’ve assessed your waste and are still not sure if an item is hazardous or POPs waste, you should treat it as hazardous and POPs waste as a precaution.

Read technical guidance on how to assess waste and identifying POPs waste.

Televisions, computer monitors and other display devices

Components such as screens, circuit boards, batteries or any plastic parts may contain hazardous chemicals or POPs.

| Waste status | Household | Industrial or commercial

Cathode ray tube (CRT), flatscreen (plasma or LCD) containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* | 16-02-13*

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Fridges, freezers, chillers and air-conditioning units

Components such as circuit boards, motors and any plastic parts may contain hazardous chemicals or POPs. Coolants and foam may also be hazardous. Usually there is not enough POPs for the item to be classified as POPs waste.

Containing ozone-depleting substances as foam blowing agents or coolants | Hazardous, non-POPs | 20-01-23* | 16-02-11*

Other | Hazardous, non-POPs | 20-01-35* | 16-02-13*

Large domestic appliances (LDA): white goods (washing machines, tumble driers, dishwashers and cookers)

Components such as circuit boards, motors or any plastic parts may contain hazardous chemicals or POPs. Usually there is not enough for the item to be classified as hazardous or POPs waste.

Large domestic appliances: white goods | Non-hazardous, non-POPs | 20-01-36 | 16-02-14

Small mixed WEEE

These are small household-type electrical items collected from homes or businesses.

Small mixed WEEE containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Other household-type electricals from homes or businesses

These are waste electrical items collected from households or businesses that are not already listed and are separated from small mixed WEEE.

Cat 1: Large household appliances (other than LDA white goods) containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 2: Small household appliances containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 3: IT and telecommunication equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 4: Consumer equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 5: Lighting equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 6: Electronic and electrical tools containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 7: Toys, leisure and sporting equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Lightbulbs and lamps

Components such as circuit boards, plastic parts or casings may contain POPs and hazardous chemicals, such as flame retardants.

You must check the levels of hazardous substances and POPs in the bulbs before you can classify the waste. Read guidance on assessing WEEE for hazardous substances or POPs.

| Waste status | Household | Industrial or commercial

Fluorescent tubes and low energy - excluding LED and other gas-discharge lamps | Hazardous | 20-01-21* | 16-02-13*

LED, halogen and incandescent containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* | 16-02-13*

LED, halogen and incandescent not containing hazardous components | Non-hazardous | 20-01-36 | 16-02-14

Batteries

Lead acid (vehicle) | Hazardous | 16-06-01* | 16-06-01*

Lead acid (other) | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | 16-06-01*

Nickel-Cadmium | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | 16-06-02*

Mercury containing | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | 16-06-03*

Alkaline | Non-hazardous | 20-01-34 | 16-06-04

Other - Lithium or Lithium ion | Non-hazardous | 20-01-34 | 16-06-05

Mixed household-type batteries - separately collected | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | Not allowed

Other WEEE, parts and components

If your waste is not listed, you can find more classes in the guidance on classifying waste from dismantling or treating WEEE.

Vehicle and oily wastes

The tables below list waste codes for common wastes produced by vehicle maintenance and dismantling activities.

Vehicle fluids and other oils

You must not mix any of the following fluids:

mineral oils

cooking oils

halogenated oils

brake fluids

anti-freeze

washer fluids

oily waters

Vehicle and other oils

| Waste status | Contains PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) | Mineral-based and chlorinated | Mineral-based and non-chlorinated | Synthetic | Readily biodegradable | Other oils

Hydraulic oils | Hazardous | 13-01-01* | 13-01-09* | 13-01-10* | 13-01-11* | 13-01-12* | 13-01-13*

Engine, gear and lubricating oils | Hazardous | Not applicable | 13-02-04* | 13-02-05* | 13-02-06* | 13-02-07* | 13-02-08*

Insulating and transmission oils | Hazardous | 13-03-01* | 13-03-06* | 13-03-07* | 13-03-08* | 13-03-09* | 13-03-10*

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Interceptor wastes

| Waste status | Waste code

Interceptor sludges | Hazardous | 13-05-03*

Oily water from interceptor | Hazardous | 13-05-07*

Solid waste from interceptor | Hazardous | 13-05-01*

Fuels, brake and anti-freeze fluids

| Waste status | Waste code

Fuel oil and diesel | Hazardous | 13-07-01*

Petrol | Hazardous | 13-07-02*

Other fuels, including mixed fuels from mis-fuelling | Hazardous | 13-07-03*

Brake fluids | Hazardous | 16-01-13*

Antifreeze containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 16-01-14*

Antifreeze not containing hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 16-01-15

Vehicles and their components

The waste code for end-of-life (no longer usable) tyres is 16-01-03.

Vehicles

| Waste status | Waste code

End-of-life vehicles - un-depolluted | Hazardous | 16-01-04*

End-of-life vehicles - depolluted | Non-hazardous | 16-01-06

Components, including oil filters

| Waste status | Waste code

Oil filters | Hazardous | 16-01-07*

Components containing mercury | Hazardous | 16-01-08*

Components containing PCBs | Hazardous | 16-01-09*

Air bags

The waste code for explosive components (for example air bags) is 16-01-10*.

Brake pads

| Waste status | Waste code

Brake pads containing asbestos | Hazardous | 16-01-11*

Other brake pads | Non-hazardous | 16-01-12

Car batteries

The waste code for lead acid car batteries is 16-06-01*.

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Catalytic converters

The waste code for catalytic converters is 16 01 21*, or 16 01 22 for those that do not contain refractory ceramic fibres (RCF).

End-of-life vehicle wastes

| Waste status | Waste code

Ferrous metal | Non-hazardous | 16-01-17

Non-ferrous metal | Non-hazardous | 16-01-18

Plastic | Non-hazardous | 16-01-19

Vehicle glass | Non-hazardous | 16-01-20

Contaminated materials

| Waste status | Waste code

Clothing, absorbents or wiping cloths contaminated with hazardous substances | Hazardous | 15-02-02*

Clothing, absorbents or wiping clothes contaminated with non-hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 15-02-03

Healthcare and related wastes

The tables below list waste codes for common healthcare and related wastes.

Additional guidance

Check the guide to the safe management of healthcare waste for additional information about classifying clinical and healthcare waste.

Offensive waste

‘Offensive waste’ is non-clinical waste that’s non-infectious and does not contain pharmaceutical or chemical substances, but may be unpleasant to anyone who comes into contact with it.

| Examples | Waste status | Human healthcare | Animal healthcare

Healthcare offensive waste | Outer dressings and protective clothing like masks, gowns and gloves that are not contaminated with body fluids, and sterilised laboratory waste | Non-hazardous | 18-01-04 | 18-02-03

Municipal offensive waste | Hygiene waste and sanitary protection like nappies and incontinence pads | Non-hazardous | 20-01-99 | 20-01-99

You must segregate healthcare offensive waste from both clinical and mixed municipal wastes.

If you’ve produced more than 7kg of municipal offensive waste, or have more than one bag in a collection period, you must segregate it from any mixed municipal waste.

If you’ve produced less, you can dispose of your municipal offensive waste in your mixed municipal waste (‘black bag’). Use classification code 20-03-01.

Plaster and similar wastes

Most plaster waste is non-infectious.

It should be kept separately from any plaster waste that’s infectious, which must be placed in the bagged infectious clinical waste stream.

| Waste status | Human healthcare | Animal healthcare

Plaster and similar wastes, for example from dentistry and fracture clinics | Non-hazardous | 18-01-04 | 18-02-03

Waste medicines

A medicine is considered to be cytotoxic or cytostatic for waste classification purposes if it’s any of the following:

acutely toxic

carcinogenic

mutagenic

toxic for reproduction

Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines | Hazardous | 18-01-08* | 18-02-07*

Other medicines | Non-hazardous | 18-01-09 | 18-02-08

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Household medicines returned to a community pharmacy should be coded as follows:

cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines: 20-01-31*

other medicines: 20-01-32

Sharps and related waste

Cytotoxic and cytostatic contaminated | Hazardous | 18-01-08* and 18-01-03* | 18-02-07* and 18-02-02*

Other medicinally contaminated | Hazardous | 18-01-03* and 18-01-09 | 18-02-02* and 18-02-08

Non-medicinally contaminated | Hazardous | 18-01-03* | 18-02-02*

Anatomical waste

Not chemically preserved - infectious | Hazardous | 18-01-03* | 18-02-02*

Not chemically preserved - non-infectious | Non-hazardous | 18-01-02 | 18-02-03

Chemically preserved - infectious or non-infectious | Hazardous | 18-01-06* and 18-01-02*/03 | 18-02-05* and 18-02-02*/03

Bagged clinical waste

You must only put waste items that are both infectious and chemically contaminated (for example some samples and diagnostic kits) in the yellow bag waste stream.

Infectious clinical waste (no chemicals or pharmaceuticals) - orange bag | Hazardous | 18-01-03* | 18-02-02*

Infectious clinical waste - yellow bag | Hazardous | 18-01-03* and 18-01-06* | 18-02-02* and 18-02-05*

Laboratory chemicals and photochemicals

You must classify photochemicals and film, including X-ray related products, with codes from chapter 9 of the waste code section in the technical guidance on waste.

| Waste status | Human healthcare | Animal healthcare

Other chemicals - hazardous | Hazardous | 18-01-06* | 18-02-05*

Other chemicals - non-hazardous | Non-hazardous | 18-01-07 | 18-02-06


Contaminated land

Overview

Land can be contaminated by things like:

heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium and lead

oils and tars

chemical substances and preparations, like solvents

gases

asbestos

radioactive substances

What counts as contaminated land

Land is legally defined as ‘contaminated land’ where substances are causing or could cause:

significant harm to people, property or protected species

significant pollution of surface waters (for example lakes and rivers) or groundwater

harm to people as a result of radioactivity

Contaminated land may previously have been used as a:

factory

mine

steel mill

refinery

landfill

Special sites

Some types of contaminated land are classed as ‘special sites’. This includes land that:

seriously affects drinking waters, surface waters or important groundwater sources

has been, or is being, used for certain industrial activities, such as oil refining or making explosives

is being or has been regulated using a permit issued under the integrated pollution control or pollution prevention and control regimes

has been used to get rid of waste acid tars

is owned or occupied by the Ministry of Defence

is contaminated by radioactivity

is a nuclear site

The Environment Agency has technical guidance on special sites.

Once a local council has decided that an area is a special site, it is regulated by:

the Environment Agency in England

Natural Resources Wales in Wales

the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in Scotland

Who decides if land is contaminated

Your local council or an environment agency will decide if your land is contaminated.

Your land could be investigated for a number of reasons, including when:

land is sold, let, used or otherwise transferred

land is proposed for development

local councils inspect land in their area

an application is made for an environmental permit or other licence

land is polluted

Contact your local council if you believe your land is contaminated.

Dealing with contamination

The rules for who’s responsible for contamination and how to deal with it depend on whether the land is legally considered ‘contaminated land’.

If the land counts as contaminated land

If the land is legally considered ‘contaminated land’, the person who caused or allowed the contamination to happen is responsible for dealing with it, unless:

they can’t be identified

the local council or environment agency investigating the issue decides they’re exempt

The council or agency will then decide who’s responsible for dealing with it instead. This may be the landowner, or the person who uses the land.

What happens next

The council or agency will:

decide how the land should be dealt with

ask the responsible person to deal with the contamination

tell them how they should take care of it (clean it up or fence it off, for example)

If the person doesn’t deal with the contamination, the council or agency will send a ‘remediation notice’, telling them when they must take care of it by.

You can agree a voluntary scheme with the council or agency if you’re responsible for part or all of the clean up. You must tell them what steps you’ll take to clean up the land.

If the land doesn’t count as contaminated land

If the land isn’t legally considered ‘contaminated land’, you could be responsible for dealing with the contamination if you’re:

responsible for causing it

the landowner

You may face legal action if you don’t deal with contamination that you’re responsible for. Find out how to manage contamination on your land.

If you’re developing the land

You’ll have to deal with the contamination either:

before you get planning permission

as part of the development

Contact your local council to check what you must do to make sure the land is suitable for your proposed development.


Dispose of business or commercial waste

Your responsibilities

You must:

keep waste to a minimum by doing everything you reasonably can to prevent, reuse, recycle or recover waste (in that order) - get help to do this

sort and store waste safely and securely

complete a waste transfer note for each load of waste that leaves your premises

check if your waste carrier is registered to dispose of waste

not allow the waste carrier to dispose of your waste illegally (and report them to Crimestoppers if they do)

You have extra responsibilities if you’re dealing with hazardous waste.

What counts as business waste

Any waste that comes from a commercial activity is business waste. If you use part of your home to run your business then any waste from that part is business waste.

Business waste also includes any waste that comes from:

construction

demolition

industry

agriculture

Check what you need to do in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Disposing of your own waste

You must register as a waste carrier if you want to dispose of your own waste regularly. Apply to register in:

England

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Depending on what you’re doing, you may also need to apply for a waste permit.

Moving waste between countries

You cannot move waste between countries for disposal, for example to send it to landfill. You can usually only import or export waste to recover it, such as using waste to produce energy.

Read the guide on waste imports and exports.

Sorting and storing waste

You must store waste safely and securely. To do this:

store waste in a secure place

use suitable containers that will stop waste escaping

label containers clearly with the type of waste they contain

use covers to stop waste blowing away

use waterproof covers if rain could cause contaminated run-off or prevent the waste from being reused

You have extra responsibilities if you’re storing hazardous waste.

Store different types of waste separately, so that:

they do not contaminate each other

they can be reused more easily

you can complete the waste transfer note correctly

Waste transfer notes

For each load of non-hazardous waste you move off your premises, you need a waste transfer note or a document with the same information, such as an invoice.

Register online to:

fill in a waste transfer note for a single load of waste

create a season ticket for a series of loads

Or download a waste transfer note to fill in and sign on paper.

Your business and the business taking your waste both need to:

Fill in the sections of the waste transfer note that apply to you.

Sign it.

Keep a copy for 2 years.

Show it to an enforcement officer from your local council or the Environment Agency if asked.

You must include enough information to help the business taking your waste to handle and dispose of it safely.

Contacts

Contact the organisation in your region if you have any questions about business and commercial waste.

England

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland


Environmental taxes, reliefs and schemes for businesses

Overview

Environmental taxes encourage your business to operate in a more environmentally friendly way. There are taxes and schemes for different types and size of business.

You may get reliefs or be exempt from some taxes, for example if:

you use a lot of energy because of the nature of your business

you’re a small business that does not use much energy

you buy energy-efficient technology for your business

You can pay less tax by applying for schemes to help you demonstrate that you’re operating more efficiently and producing waste that’s less damaging.

Climate Change Levy

Climate Change Levy (CCL) is paid at either the:

main rates

carbon price support (CPS) rates

Main rates

You pay CCL at the main rate on:

electricity

gas

solid fuels - like coal, lignite, coke and petroleum coke

The CCL main rates are listed on your business’s energy bill.

There’s more detailed information on Climate Change Levy rates and allowances.

Who it applies to

You pay the main rates of CCL if your business is in one of the following sectors:

industrial

commercial

agricultural

public services

You do not pay the main rate of CCL on certain supplies, for example if you’re a:

business that uses small amounts of energy

domestic energy user

charity engaged in non-commercial activities

Fuels that are exempt

Electricity, gas and solid fuel are normally exempt from the main rates of CCL if any of the following apply:

they will not be used in the UK

they’re supplied to or from certain combined heat and power (CHP) schemes registered under the CHP quality assurance (CHPQA) programme

the electricity was generated from renewable sources before 1 August 2015

they’re used to produce electricity in a generating station which has a capacity of 2MW or greater

they will not be used as fuel

they’re used in certain forms of transport

There are other exemptions and reliefs.

Pay a reduced rate

You can get a reduction on the main rates of CCL if you’re an energy intensive business and have entered into a climate change agreement (CCA) with the Environment Agency.

Energy intensive businesses can get a 90% reduction for electricity and a 65% reduction for gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), coal and other solid fuel.

Check if your business is eligible. Your industry trade association can also give advice.

Carbon price support rates

The CPS rates of CCL encourage industry to use low carbon technology for producing electricity.

You pay CPS rates for:

gas

LPG

coal and other solid fossil fuels

Who pays CPS rates

The CPS rates of CCL are paid by owners of electricity generating stations and operators of combined heat and power (CHP) stations.

Certain suppliers do not have to pay CPS rates. These include small generators, stand-by generators and generating stations in Northern Ireland.

CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme

The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (formerly known as the ‘Carbon Reduction Commitment’) covers large, non-energy-intensive organisations, for example:

supermarkets

hotels

water companies

banks

local authorities, including state-funded schools

all central government departments

How it works

You should already be registered if your business qualifies for the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. You must now:

monitor and report your CO2 emissions from gas and electricity use

buy enough allowances to cover your annual emissions and surrender them at the end of the year

If you need more help

There’s more detailed guidance on the scheme if you’re in England or Wales.

Emissions trading

The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) affects businesses from energy-intensive sectors - like the energy industry and certain manufacturers.

It lets you buy and sell greenhouse gas emission allowances to reduce your organisation’s environmental impact.

Large organisations not covered by the EU ETS are covered by another scheme called the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.

How it works

If your business is covered by the EU ETS you must meet targets by:

cutting your business emissions

trading emissions allowances

You’ll need to open an EU Registry account so you can trade allowances. You can then trade allowances by:

trading directly with other businesses

buying or selling from intermediaries, for example banks and specialist traders

using the services of a broker

joining one of the several exchanges that list carbon allowance products

bidding at UK government or other EU member state auctions

Calculate your greenhouse gas emissions

Work out your greenhouse gas emissions by multiplying the amount of energy you use by the (emissions they produce). You need to do this for each type of energy you use.

To do this, you need to know:

how much non-renewable energy you’ve used - this information can be found on your gas, electricity and water bills, invoices and receipts

the greenhouse gases produced by each type of energy (the ‘emission factor’) - these are updated every year

You can calculate your carbon emissions online.

Capital allowances on energy-efficient items

You can claim capital allowances when you buy energy efficient, or low or zero-carbon technology for your business. This reduces the amount of tax you pay.

Landfill Tax

You pay tax on top of your normal landfill fees if your business gets rid of waste using landfill sites.

If you get rid of waste at sites not authorised for landfill, you’ll be charged Landfill Tax. You may also have to pay a penalty or be taken to court.

Landfill operators - what you must do

You need to:

get a permit

register within 30 days of setting up - if you do not you can be fined

What to pay

The tax is charged by weight. There are 2 rates. You pay the lower rate on ‘inactive waste’ - for example rocks or soil.

Rate | Amount you pay

Lower rate | £3.10 per tonne

Standard rate | £96.70 per tonne

Loss on Ignition (LOI) testing regime

If your landfill site accepts waste fines, you may need to carry out a loss on ignition test to help determine the rate of tax to pay.

Exemptions

You do not have to pay Landfill Tax on:

dredging activities

quarrying and mining

pet cemeteries

inactive waste used for filling quarries

You can get tax credits if you send waste from landfill to be recycled, incinerated or reused.

Aggregates Levy

This is a tax on sand, gravel and rock that’s either been:

dug from the ground

dredged from the sea in UK waters

imported

What you need to do

You must register with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if your business exploits aggregate in the UK, for example if you’re a quarry operator.

Every quarter, you must tell HMRC how much aggregate you’ve produced or sold.

How much you pay

You pay tax of £2 per tonne of sand, gravel or rock. You pay less on smaller amounts, for example £1 on half a tonne. You still pay tax if you import the materials.

Reliefs

You can get tax relief if you export aggregates or use them in some industrial or agricultural processes. If you do not use the material as aggregate it may be eligible for relief.

Exemptions

Certain materials  are excluded from the tax, for example soil, vegetable or other organic matter.

If you need more help

There’s more detailed guidance on Aggregates Levy or you can contact the helpline.


Green Deal: energy saving for your home

Overview

The Green Deal helps you make energy-saving improvements to your home and to find the best way to pay for them.

The improvements that could save you the most energy depend on your home, but typical examples include:

insulation, such as solid wall, cavity wall or loft insulation

heating

draught-proofing

double glazing

renewable energy generation, such as solar panels or heat pumps

If you need help paying for home improvements

You may be able to get a loan through the Green Deal, but you’ll have to pay this back.

Find out if your home will benefit

There are various ways to check if your property could benefit from energy-saving improvements:

use the Energy Efficiency Calculator to find out how you can reduce your energy bills

check which home energy grants you might be able to apply for

talk to a Green Deal assessor or provider

The Green Deal may be right for you if you think your property could benefit from energy-saving improvements.

You can also talk to Simple Energy Advice if you’re in England or Wales, or Home Energy Scotland if you’re in Scotland

Find out about call charges

The Green Deal is not available in Northern Ireland.

Green Deal mark

All Green Deal organisations must be authorised. Look for the quality mark, which is a green house with a tick on the roof.

You can also check if a Green Deal company is genuine.

Improvements and benefits to your home

Any household with an electricity meter (including prepayment meters) in England, Scotland or Wales can use the scheme.

Both the landlord and the tenant must agree to the improvements if the building is rented.

Eligible improvements

You can use the Green Deal for a range of different energy saving measures including:

replacing windows and doors

installing secondary glazing

using energy efficient lighting

insulating your loft or walls

adding draught proofing

upgrading your heating

generating renewable energy from sources such as wind or solar power

But only if your Green Deal assessment recommends them.

Get an assessment

You must get your property assessed to use the Green Deal. Contact a Green Deal assessor or ask a Green Deal provider to find an assessor for you.

You may have to pay for an assessment. The assessor must tell you the fee in advance.

What to expect from an assessment

A Green Deal assessor will visit your home, talk to you about your property and your energy use and help you decide if you could benefit from Green Deal improvements.

When you book

You may be asked if:

you own or rent the property

your home is a listed building, in a conservation area, built before 1900 or constructed in a non-traditional way

there are access issues, such as access to your loft

you can provide bills showing your recent energy use

When the assessor visits

You may be asked:

how many people live in your home

what type of heating and appliances you use

how often you use your heating

what energy-saving measures are already installed

After the visit

You’ll get a document, called a Green Deal advice report, that contains:

an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) that rates your home for energy efficiency

an occupancy assessment that measures how much energy you and other occupiers are using

improvements your assessor recommends

an estimate of the money you could save on your annual energy bills

a statement on whether the improvements will pay for themselves through reduced energy costs

A Green Deal advice report is valid for 10 years, or until you make changes or energy saving improvements to the property, for example you build an extension or change the windows.

The actual savings will depend on how much energy you use and the future cost of energy.

What to do next

You decide:

if you want to get the work done

how you want to pay

Getting the work done

How you decide to get the work done will affect your options for how you pay for the work.

After you get a Green Deal advice report, you can:

ask a Green Deal provider to arrange installation and pay for the work yourself

ask a Green Deal provider to arrange installation and a Green Deal finance plan to pay for the work

get your own installers to fit the improvements and pay for them yourself

pay for the work in more than one way, like using a Green Deal finance plan or money of your own

Some companies provide all the services for a Green Deal package - assessment, finance and installation. You can choose to use a different company for each service.

Get a quote

Give a provider or installer your Green Deal advice report.

Providers will give you a quote and arrange the installers for you. Installers will quote to do the work themselves. A quote from a provider will include the repayment terms if you’re paying with a finance plan.

You can get more than one quote and you can choose which improvements you want.

You can ask the provider or installer if you or your property qualify to combine the Green Deal with these other schemes:

Affordable Warmth Obligation - help from your energy company to improve your home if you’re on certain benefits or a low income, or for certain hard-to-treat properties

Feed-in Tariffs - payments from your energy provider if you generate your own electricity (such as through solar panels or a wind turbine)

Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) - payments for generation and use of renewable energy to heat buildings

any scheme run by your Local Authority - contact your Local Authority for information

Agree the work

Pick the provider or installer you want to do the work.

The provider will write you a contract called a Green Deal finance plan if you choose to pay with Green Deal finance. The plan will contain:

an outline of the work that will be done

any financial help you can get from other schemes

the repayments and interest rate

information on other incentives you can access, such as Feed-in Tarrifs

information on warranties and guarantees

Your Green Deal repayments will be automatically added to your electricity bill if you have chosen to take Green Deal finance.

Complaints

You can complain about your Green Deal.

How to pay

You can pay in advance, get a Green Deal finance plan, or use other schemes to fund the work. You can also combine ways to pay.

Getting a Green Deal finance plan

Finance plans are offered by approved Green Deal providers.

Give your Green Deal assessment to providers you want to get a quote from.

Your provider will find an installer for you.

You can only get a finance plan for improvements recommended in your Green Deal assessment.

Each provider must tell you:

how much you’ll pay back

how long you’ll pay for

What you can borrow and how much you’ll pay

You can get finance for an amount based on what you’ll be expected to save on your energy bills.

The annual repayments on the loan should not be more than the savings you might make on your energy bills.

There’s no set interest rate. Your interest rate will be determined by the amount of your finance plan. Check with your provider for rates and fees.

The interest rate is fixed for the full term of the plan so your repayments will be fixed.

How you pay

You pay back the loan through a charge added to your electricity bill. If you have a prepayment meter, a small amount will be taken from the meter each day.

This is because the Green Deal stays with the property. If you move, you no longer benefit from the improvements and therefore stop paying for them.

You can pay off your Green Deal early, but you might be charged a fee - check with your provider.

Moving into a property with a Green Deal

If you move into a property with a Green Deal, the landlord or seller must show you a copy of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This will explain what improvements have been made and how much you’ll need to repay.

The person who pays the electricity bill pays the money back.

You can change electricity supplier if the new supplier is participating in the Green Deal.

Get more information

Contact the Green Deal provider if you have specific questions about the improvements, warranties or repayments.

You can get general information from Simple Energy Advice if you’re in England or Wales, or Home Energy Scotland if you’re in Scotland.

Find out about call charges