What are the legal requirements for Scrap Metal Dealers?

The main Act of Parliament dealing with this registration process is the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964. This Act says we shall register dealers (defined as persons who carry on a business consisting wholly or partly of buying AND selling scrap metal) provided we are satisfied that:

1. You occupy a place (any land) in Portsmouth as a scrap metal store where metal is received or kept or;
2. You do not have a store but as a scrap metal dealer your usual place of residence is in Portsmouth or;
3. You do not have a store but a place in Portsmouth is occupied by you, wholly or partly for the purposes of business
   You might therefore need also to register with other local authorities if you have scrap metal stores in areas outside Portsmouth.
   For clarification purposes you are deemed to be a scrap metal dealer only if you buy and sell scrap metal. If, for example you buy old motor cars and sell them on for scrap you are not a scrap metal dealer as you have not bought scrap metal. Equally, if your business consists of buying scrap metal for the purposes of manufacturing or producing other goods with it then you are not a dealer and can even sell any surplus scrap metal bought if it is not required.
   "Scrap metal" is defined as "any old metal, and any broken, worn out or defaced or partly manufactured articles made wholly or partly of metal and any metallic wastes".
   WARNING
   It is an offence to carry on a business as a scrap metal dealer unless currently registered with the Council.
   

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