The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2005

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which extend to England and Wales, amend the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (the 1997 Regulations) which impose obligations on producers to recover and recycle packaging waste, and related obligations, to assist the UK in attaining the targets set out in Article 6(1) of Directive 94/62/EC (OJ No L365, 31.12.1994, p.10, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 and Directive 2004/12/EC).

Regulation 2 amends the 1997 Regulations to allow reprocessors and exporters to apply for and the Environment Agency to grant accreditation at any time throughout the year.

Paragraph (2) amends regulation 21B. Sub-paragraph (a) removes the requirement for a person to have applied for accreditation as a reprocessor or exporter by the 30th of September in the year preceding the year in which he is applying to be accredited. Sub-paragraph (b) removes the requirement for the relevant Agency to have notified the applicant of its decision by the 30 November, although the requirement to notify in writing remains. Sub-paragraph (c) is amended so that where accreditation is granted in the preceding year to that to which the application relates, it takes effect from the 1st January and in all other cases, from the date of the decision. Accreditations subsist until the 31st December.

Paragraph (3) makes consequential amendments to Schedule 2A.

The 1997 Regulations were made under powers in sections 93-95 of the Environment Act 1995 (c. 25) (“the 1995 Act”) and were required by section 93(10) to be laid in draft and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament. These Regulations were made under powers in section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 (c. 68) (“the 1972 Act”) instead, and are subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament. Those specific powers in the 1995 Act may only be exercised after consultation with bodies or persons appearing to be representative of bodies or persons whose interests are, or are likely to be, substantially affected by the regulations. Whilst there is no consultation requirement before exercising the powers in section 2(2) of the 1972 Act, consultation of those bodies and persons was nevertheless carried out.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business.