On Wednesday 1 May 2024, the Draft Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 were sent to the European Union in respect of Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework, and their labelling requirements were notified to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), thereby meeting the UK’s obligations as a member.
Following agreed notification periods at the WTO and the EU, packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation will be brought before the UK Parliament later this year, with the aim of it coming into force across the UK by the 1 January 2025.
Steve Gough, Chief Executive of Valpak by Reconomy, the UK’s largest compliance scheme, commented, “This latest development provides much greater certainty over the timings of the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging draft regulations and increases the likelihood that it will be up and running by the start of next year.”
He concluded, “Producers should take advantage of this certainty to absorb and familiarise themselves with the legislation to start preparing for its introduction. Embracing the legislation proactively will open up opportunities for stakeholders to thrive rather than just survive with the new rules, while placing circularity at the heart of their offering.”
