repackaging of goods & the law

[bee keeper]

Hello all.
I have come here as I am having difficulty finding info elsewhere, & thought that you good folk may be able to help. Outside of work my wife & I are wildlife fanatics, & we make products for birds, bees, insects & animals etc. Our materials are mainly donated to us, & we in turn donate the finished products.
Just lately things are getting a bit tougher, & we would like to try & set up something online to create a bit of a cash turnover to help fund it a bit.

To go along with our general theme we are looking at the bulk purchase of uk garden seeds, with the idea of repackaging them under our own registered name. Is there any reason why we can't do this ?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[sla3]

I wouldn't have thought so, but seeds are funny things. Well, they aren't themselves, but the regulations that surround them can be. Some seeds can't be sold, because they aren't on some bloody European list (mainly the type that the individual gardener would want as opposed to commercial growers).

You are wise to check - maybe DEFRA would be the place to start? or the RHS? I have found DEFRA to be quite easy to contact, but - like all organisations with low-grade staff as points of first contact - don't accept the first answer you get from the phone-droid if it isn't the one you want.

Can you make 'flatpacked' things like bird, bee and butterfly houses for mail order? The prices charged by the 'big names' are just daft, and although their markup will be huge, the shipping cost of an assembled unit will be significant.

There's a chap just down the road from us who does a similar thing with donated materials, he makes and sells bird boxes for a very reasonable price and donates the proceeds to a couple of animal type charities. I'm hoping he might be making bumblebee nests this year too, and although it's already a bit late for them if they attract a mouse to nest this year that makes an ideal nest for a bumble bee next year.

You might also be able to charge a pound or so for a 'cutting sheet' for folks who might like to make their own, but don't feel confident measuring up and such like.

Good luck with your project.

 

[bee keeper]

Thanks sla3. Yes I am thinking on the lines of defra also, will try them later. Sounds like myself & your man down the road are cut from the same mould. I get an idea in my head according to the materials at hand. If theres enough for a birdbox then thats it, but could be a dovecote or beehive other times. They go to a sanctuary, & what he gets, helps him carry on.
On the seed front I am begining to think that it will be ok, as bulk seed comes in one big bag, so what are you supposed to do with it ( unless it is sold as grower only or something ) still I will check.

Thanks for your help.

 

[sla3]

I'd say if the seeds can be sold TO you, then they should be OK to be sold BY you. Check labelling regulations too - that may not be DEFRA, more like Trading Standards. You'll certainly want date control and sowing instructions, and there might be a batch control requirement too,

 

[amarcd]

any updates on this?