Drop shipping vitamins and supplements

[Flattcatt]

Hi,
I'd be grateful if anyone could advise on a real concern.

I'm just about to sell drop shipped supplements. The manufacturers are UK based and I'll be supplying UK customers.

It's been suggested that I need to register as a Food Business Operator under the Food Standards Agency, but as I am reselling and never take possession of the items it's a bit of a shock: having looked I can't see how I don't need to register.

I'd be very grateful for opinions from anyone who operates in a similar way, or knows what's needed. If possible could I ask you to point to official FSA/Gov info - I'm genuinely concerned what I might be planning to do ends up with me operating illegally.

Many thanks in anticipation - Paul.

 

[wayzgoose]

I would phone the food standards agency. I had the same dilemma a few years ago when I was dropshipping alcohol gifts. I was pretty sure I didn't need the licence but I phoned the local council and the gentleman I spoke to told me I did. I felt at the time he was just covering his back so I left it a few days and phoned again. This time a lady was insistant that I did not need a licence so I asked her very nicely it she would mind putting it in writing. I've still got the email pinned on the notice board now!

 

[Flattcatt]

Thanks Waygoose - that's a great story!

Good advice and I'll follow up with the FSA. I'd contacted my local Trading Standards but their message was "depends" and "we'll tell you more only if you cross our palms with silver"!

 

[wayzgoose]

The main point is, it's a grey area. So if you don't get the answer you want just try again !
Dropshipping as a whole can bring up some very strange decisions. Another example is two VAT officials in different parts of the country can't agree on their own laws.
Orders from probably the two biggest dropship suppliers in the country: send a package to the US and one will remove the VAT and the other won't. Both have had meetings with top VAT officials who can't decide how it should work. Well they can decide but have come to different decisions.

 

[Flattcatt]

Unbelievable isn't it. You'd think a precedent would be set, either way, and communicated to all interested parties...!

Just by way of update, according to the Food Standards Agency I will "probably" have to register but contact my local environmental health authority.

 

[Mr D]

Unbelievable isn't it. You'd think a precedent would be set, either way, and communicated to all interested parties...!

Just by way of update, according to the Food Standards Agency I will "probably" have to register but contact my local environmental health authority.

Precedent just means one person makes a decision and then tries to bind others to the same decision. Doesn't mean the decision is correct or should apply in all situations like that.