As UK legislation surrounding acid-based cleaning products continues to tighten, Hilton Banks is providing essential guidance and support to ensure that distributors understand what can and cannot be sold, who they can sell to, and the legal requirements they must follow.
The latest changes under the Control of Explosives Precursors and Poisons Regulations 2023 mean that certain high-strength chemicals can only be supplied to verified trade professionals, or members of the public with an EPP licence. Among the regulated products are HB Trade Bullitt Drain Cleaner, a 96% sulphuric acid drain cleaner, and HB Trade Spirits of Salts, a 32% hydrochloric acid industrial descaler.
By helping merchants navigate these regulations, Hilton Banks is ensuring that professional users continue to access the products they need while keeping businesses protected from potential legal risks.
Scarlet McAleese-Banks, Joint Managing Director of Hilton Banks, explained: “These products are strictly for professional use and cannot be sold to anyone under 18, or to the general public, except to those with an EPP licence which you have to apply for and is not easy to get.
“To comply with the law, merchants must verify and record the details of any trade customer purchasing these products. This includes obtaining photographic identification of the buyer, confirming their trade or business name and address, identifying the nature of their business, and recording a VAT registration number where applicable. Sales records must be securely stored for a minimum of 18 months and made available to authorities upon request.”
For merchants that also serve the general public, it is important to note that while the highest-strength versions of these products are restricted to professional users, there are still options available for consumer use. For example, while the Spirits of Salt is banned from retail sale, a lower-strength 10% version remains legally available for non-professional customers.
Beyond simply ensuring legal sales, Hilton Banks is committed to supporting merchants with the tools they need to stay ahead of regulatory requirements. The company provides detailed compliance guidance, helping merchants understand their responsibilities. From training materials to practical advice on customer verification, Hilton Banks states that it ensures that distributors are well-equipped to handle acid-based product sales responsibly.
“Failing to meet the requirements set out by UK regulations can lead to significant fines and legal consequences,” continued Scarlet. “By working in partnership with us, merchants and distributors can be confident that they are operating within the law and safeguarding their reputation while continuing to offer high-performance cleaning solutions to their trade customers.”
Offering a customer perspective, Rob Collins of E D Elson Builders Merchant added: “We have been selling Bullitt Acid Drain Cleaner for many years and it’s a fantastic product and for some tradespeople’s problems it will be the only thing that works!
“When the new legislation came in – and rightly so – we were unsure what we needed to do. But HB assured us, and I am pleased to say I have confidence we are selling this product safely and compliantly. When Islington council paid us a visit the other day, I was able to show the records I had been keeping of all sales and ID cards of the trades people I had sold to.”
There remains a strong demand for these powerful cleaning products within the trade sector. Professionals in the cleaning and construction industries rely on high-strength solutions to tackle the toughest cleaning challenges, from clearing blocked drains to removing heavy-duty limescale and deposits.
By ensuring that these products remain available through legal and responsible distribution channels, HB Trade is helping to maintain the efficiency and effectiveness of professional cleaning operations across the industry.
For more details Search for Supplying explosives precursors and poisons on www.gov.uk
To find out more about Hilton Banks visit www.hiltonbanks.com/bullitt/
