Section 155 Supply of specified articleI1I2
United Kingdom
A person who supplies a specified article to another person commits an offence.
“Specified article” means an article specified in regulations under section 156.
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section (“the supplier”) to prove—
that—
the supply was made in the course of a business carried on by the supplier, or
the supplier had a good reason or lawful authority for possessing the specified article (before the supply was made),
that, before the supply was made, the supplier took reasonable steps to satisfy themselves that the person to whom the specified article was to be supplied would have a good reason or lawful authority for possessing it, and
that, before the supply was made, the supplier made a record of the specified information relating to the supply.
In subsection (2)(a)(ii) the reference to a good reason or lawful authority for possessing the specified article does not include possessing it for the purpose of supplying it to another.
In subsection (2)(c) “the specified information” relating to the supply of a specified article to a person (“the recipient”) means—
the date of the supply;
a description of the specified article;
the name of the recipient and, where the recipient is not an individual, any company number or other registered number;
the address of the recipient and, where the recipient is not an individual, the address of any registered office;
a description of the steps taken by the supplier to satisfy themselves that the recipient would have a good reason or lawful authority for possessing the specified article.
A person who commits an offence under this section is liable—
on summary conviction in England and Wales, to a fine;
on summary conviction in Scotland or Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
Annotations
Commencement
- I1
S. 155 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 255(1)
- I2
S. 155 in force at 29.10.2026 by S.I. 2026/960, reg. 5(b)