Compliance

As of 8 November 2023, nitrous oxide (N₂O) is classified as a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and is listed in Schedule 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.

Despite this classification, nitrous oxide remains legal for legitimate commercial, catering, and food-preparation purposes, including use with whipped cream dispensers and other culinary equipment. However, both suppliers and purchasers must ensure that its supply and use are lawful and not intended for recreational inhalation.

Culinex and all customers are expected to act responsibly and with due diligence. Nitrous oxide must only be purchased and used for clearly legitimate culinary or professional food-service purposes.

Any use for recreational inhalation or misuse is strictly prohibited and unlawful.

• Possession with intent for recreational use may result in: 

• Up to 2 years’ imprisonment 
• An unlimited fine, or both
   
• Supplying or producing nitrous oxide for psychoactive or recreational misuse, including knowingly selling for inhalation purposes, may result in:
   
  • Up to 14 years’ imprisonment
  • An unlimited fine, or both
     

Under the current legal framework, no special licence is required for the purchase or use of nitrous oxide for legitimate food-related or catering applications.
However, the intended purpose must be lawful, clear, and defensible if queried by authorities.

To comply with UK law and best practices, Culinex may decline or review orders that raise reasonable concerns, including but not limited to:

• Unusually large quantities without clear business justification
• Delivery addresses associated with high-risk environments (e.g. student accommodation, festival sites, or non-commercial residential locations without explanation) 
• Orders that lack credible culinary or professional context
   

We reserve the right to request clarification or supporting information regarding intended use.

Culinex is fully committed to legal compliance, ethical trading, and public safety. When ordering from us, you can be confident that:

• We supply nitrous oxide strictly for legitimate culinary and food-service use
• Our packaging, labelling, and customer checks align with applicable UK legislation
• We actively monitor changes in UK law and regulatory guidance to ensure continued compliance
• We do not knowingly supply products for recreational or unlawful purposes
   

To remain compliant with UK law, customers should:

• Use nitrous oxide only for approved culinary or catering purposes
• Retain any relevant documentation or records that demonstrate legitimate use
• Contact Culinex if you are unsure about compliance, lawful use, or order suitability
   

If you have questions about compliance, responsible use, or your order, please contact our support team before purchasing. We are happy to assist and ensure everything is handled lawfully and responsibly.

If you want, I can also:

• Shorten this into a checkout disclaimer
• Convert it into a Terms & Conditions section
• Create a pop-up compliance acknowledgement for N₂O product pages
• Align it word-for-word with UK Trading Standards tone