| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to enable the Board of Trade to obtain information as to commodities which in the opinion of the Board would be essential for the vital needs of the community in the event of war and to make provision for the maintenance of reserves of such commodities; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 1 & 2 Geo. 6. c. 51 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 29 July 1938 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | Industrial Expansion Act 1968 |
| Relates to | |
Status: Amended | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Essential Commodities Reserves Act 1938 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Essential Commodities Reserves Act 1938 (1 & 2 Geo. 6. c. 51) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was passed in anticipation of the Second World War and allowed the Board of Trade to build up stockpiles of commodities considered to be essential, specifically foodstuffs, animal feed, fertiliser and petroleum products as well as the raw resources needed to manufacture these products. They paid traders at least £13.5 million to stockpile materials in the following year and a half. The act was largely superseded by the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939 and the establishment, in the same year, of the Ministry of Supply. The stockpiles and associated funding were wound up by 1947 and the act has not been made use of since. It was proposed for repeal by the Law Commission in 2015.