Processing of Rubber Compounds

Processing of Rubber Compounds is a craft trade (Annex No. 1 to the Trade Licensing Act, chemical production group) focused on the mixing and processing of rubber compounds and the production of rubber products. To operate it, you must meet the general conditions under Sections 6 to 8 and document a professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 of Act No. 455/1991 Coll.

Examples of activities

• Mixing and homogenising rubber compounds according to formulations
• Preparing compounds on kneading machines and roller mixers, vulcanisation
• Production of technical rubber products (seals, cuffs, membranes, O-rings)
• Production of rubber hoses, profiles, conveyor belts and floor coverings
• Manufacture and retreading of tyres and rubber casings
• Pressing, extrusion and calendering of rubber
• Production of rubber parts for the automotive and engineering industries
• Processing of reclaim and recycling of rubber waste into new compounds

What the trade is and what it is for

The "Processing of Rubber Compounds" trade is a craft trade (Annex No. 1 to Act No. 455/1991 Coll., on trade licensing, as amended, within chemical production). It authorises you to mix and process rubber compounds and to produce rubber products from them. It is a technically demanding field at the interface of chemistry and engineering, which rests on a knowledge of formulations, the properties of rubbers and additives, and vulcanisation technology.

As this is a craft trade, to operate it you must document a professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 of the Trade Licensing Act and meet the general conditions under Sections 6 to 8. The trade licence arises on the day of notification.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

The trade covers in particular:

• mixing, homogenising and preparing rubber compounds according to formulations (rubber, fillers, vulcanising agents, plasticisers)
• processing compounds on kneaders, roller mixers and calenders, vulcanisation
• production of technical rubber products - seals, cuffs, membranes, O-rings, damping mounts and silentblocks
• production of rubber hoses, profiles, conveyor belts, floor coverings and linings
• manufacture, retreading and repair of tyres and rubber casings
• pressing, injection moulding, extrusion of rubber and regeneration of rubber waste

What does not belong here: the production of the raw materials themselves, that is synthetic rubber and chemical substances, falls under chemical production within an unqualified (free) trade, or under the regulated trade "Production of hazardous chemical substances and mixtures". The production of plastic (not rubber) products belongs to the field of plastics processing. The mere wholesale and retail of rubber goods is a separate activity within an unqualified (free) trade. If you are unsure how a specific activity is classified, verify it with the Trade Licensing Office.

Conditions for obtaining the trade under the law

You must meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act:

• full legal capacity (which may be replaced by a court's approval of the legal guardian's consent for a minor),
• a clean criminal record (demonstrated by an extract from the Criminal Records Register, which the office obtains itself).

At the same time, there must be no obstacle to operating the trade under Section 8 (for example ongoing bankruptcy proceedings or a ban on activity imposed by a court or administrative authority).

Furthermore, you must demonstrate your professional qualification. Under Section 21, one of the following variants is sufficient:

• an apprenticeship certificate, maturita certificate, higher professional education diploma or university diploma in the relevant field (area),
• a document on recognition of professional qualification issued by the recognising authority,
• a document on verification or recognition of attainment of a full professional qualification under Act No. 179/2006 Coll.

If you do not have education directly in the field, you use the substitute ways under Section 22:

• an apprenticeship certificate, maturita or higher professional education in a related field + 1 year of experience in the field,
• university education in the relevant related area (here experience is not required),
• retraining + 1 year of experience in the field,
• or 6 years of experience in the field without proof of education.

If you do not meet the qualification yourself (or if a legal entity is doing business), you can appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 who meets the professional qualification on your behalf. One person may be a responsible representative for no more than four entrepreneurs.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

1. Complete the Unified Registration Form (URF) - with a single form you notify the trade and at the same time can register for income tax and for social security and health insurance.
2. Submit the notification at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, online via the portal rzp.gov.cz, or at a Czech POINT branch.
3. Submit proof of professional qualification (Section 21 or Section 22) and proof of identity.
4. Pay the administrative fee and wait for the entry.

You can find the detailed procedure in the guide How to start a trade.

Deadlines: The Trade Licensing Office makes the entry in the Trade Register and issues an extract, as a rule, within 5 working days of notification. The licence, however, arises already on the day of notification.

Documents and fees

• A completed URF (trade notification).
• Proof of identity (identity card or passport).
• Proof of professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 (education, and where applicable proof of experience).
• Where applicable, documents for the responsible representative, if it is a legal entity or if you use this option.

Frequently asked questions

What education do I need for processing rubber compounds?

This is a craft trade, so under Section 21 an apprenticeship certificate, maturita, higher professional education or university diploma in the relevant field (typically rubber technology, chemistry, plastics and rubber processing) is sufficient. A document on recognition of professional qualification or a document on a full professional qualification under Act No. 179/2006 Coll. is also accepted.

Can I obtain the trade on the basis of experience alone?

Yes. Under Section 22, the qualification can be demonstrated by six years of experience in the field without proof of education. A shorter route is education in a related field or retraining supplemented by one year of experience.

What if I do not meet the qualification at all?

You can still notify the trade if you appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 who meets the professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22. The responsible representative is responsible for the proper operation of the trade and one person may be one for no more than four entrepreneurs.

When can I start doing business?

The trade licence arises on the day of notification at the Trade Licensing Office, provided you meet the conditions. The office enters the extract in the Trade Register, as a rule, within 5 working days.

Do I need a permit to handle chemical substances?

The processing of rubber compounds itself is covered by this trade. However, if you were to produce or sell hazardous chemical substances and mixtures yourself, that is a separate regulated activity with its own requirements - in that case, verify the scope with the Trade Licensing Office.

Sources

• MEYS database of regulated activities - Processing of Rubber Compounds (uok.msmt.cz)
• Act No. 455/1991 Coll., the Trade Licensing Act (zakonyprolidi.cz)
• Ministry of Industry and Trade (mpo.gov.cz)