Approved Smoked Tobacco Retailer Application Process

Applying for the Approved Smoked Tobacco Retailer scheme

The application closing date has been extended to 11:59pm on 3 December 2023.

Step 1:

Refer to the Retail Notice to see the allocation of stores by area:

Retail Notice

Step 2:

Read the application short guide first to understand what is involved and to check if you are eligibile:

Guide before you apply to be an approved smoked tobacco retailer (docx, 490 KB), (pdf 450 KB)

Translations

Please note that the translated copies have the incorrect closing date for applications.

Step 3:

Refer to the process document for an understanding of how the application and assessment processes work as well as the criteria and weightings that will be applied to rank applicants:

Application process for the approval of smoked tobacco retailers (docx, 674 KB), (pdf, 319 KB)

Step 4:

Use the process guide (the 'Long Guide') to support you during your application:

Approved Smoked Tobacco Retailer Application Process Guide (docx, 663 KB), (pdf, 404 KB)

Step 5:

You will need to register for a HARP account. You can do this by:

Log in to HARP
Under ‘new submissions’, select the option ‘manufacturer/importer/distributor/retailer’
Complete an access registration (ACCREG). Tick the box that says “I want to submit an application to be an Approved Smoked Tobacco Retailer”.

Step 6

You can also refer to the security guide:

TRA Security systems guide (docx, 491 KB), (pdf, 155 KB)

What happens after you submit

You can check the progress of your application in HARP. We are aiming to let applicants know if they are successful or not by the end of March 2024. Any change to this timeline will be advised on the Tobacco Regulatory Authority section and in the TRA e-Newsletter.

Retailers who do not apply for a place on the scheme, and who will not therefore be approved smoked tobacco retailers, should plan to stop selling smoked tobacco products by 30 June 2024. Retailers who do apply should also consider what they will do if they are unsuccessful. It will be illegal to sell smoked tobacco products from 1 July 2024 if you are not an approved smoked tobacco retailer. 

Internet sales

Internet sales of smoked tobacco products will not be approved unless operated together with an approved retail premises, and there is not reasonable access to a retail premises in which smoked tobacco products are sold in an identifiable geographic area, or by an identifiable part of the population who smoke tobacco products.