(1)  An application under this Act for a licence, or for the renewal of a licence, must –

(a) except in the case of a licence referred to in section 16 , be in a form approved by the responsible licensing authority; and

(b) except in the case of a poppy research licence or a poppy grower's licence, be accompanied by the prescribed fee, if any; and

(c) contain the information, and be accompanied by the records, that the responsible licensing authority requires to determine the application.

(2)  An application under this Act for the renewal of a licence must be lodged not less than 30 days before the expiration of the licence.

(3)  Despite subsection (2) , the responsible licensing authority, in its discretion, may accept an application for the renewal of a licence lodged less than 30 days before the expiration of the licence.

(4)  If an application for renewal of a licence is lodged, or is accepted, under this section, the licence continues in force until the licence is renewed or the responsible licensing authority refuses to renew the licence.

(5)  The renewal of a licence takes effect, or is taken to have taken effect, from the date on which the licence was due to expire.