July 2007

The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007

There have been a number of changes introduced through these regulations including:

• clarification that accredited exporters are only accredited to issue evidence in relation to packaging waste exported to a specified overseas reprocessing site which has been approved by the appropriate agency.
  
  
• various changes to facilitate the use of the new online data system, including the use of electronic signatures
  
  
• a change to the requirement to submit an operational plan for those registered directly with one of the agencies. Only producers with an obligation greater than 500 tonnes need to submit an operational plan
  
  
• minor increases in the fees:
  • an increase of £8 for direct registrants,
  • an increase of £6 for scheme members,
  • an increase of £5 for accredited reprocessors and exporters issuing up to 400 tonnes of evidence and an increase of £26 for those issuing in excess of 400 tonnes of evidence.
    
    
• the inclusion of a requirement for Compliance Schemes to formally notify the appropriate authority whether they have complied with the recovery and recycling obligations for the previous year by 31 January each year
  
  
• the introduction of additional requirement for the agencies in determining an application for accreditation as to whether the proposed accredited company will comply with the conditions of accreditation
  
  
• the introduction of a requirement on the agencies to provide appropriate authority with a draft monitoring plan for the forthcoming year by 1^st December each year
  
  
• the expansion of those authorised to issue certificates of compliance and sign the producer registration form  to include company secretaries or if the producer is unincorporated body any person who has control or management of the body and where the producer does not have a registered office in GB an individual who has control or management of the company
  
  
• the introduction of requirement on the agencies to collate and place data on the online data system
  
  
• where packaging or packaging materials are owned by a foreign company and a UK based company performs any relevant activities on behalf of the foreign owner the UK company will be obligated for the packaging activities they perform
  
  
• where audited accounts are not available to determine whether a producer meets the turnover threshold, the most recent company accounts will be considered suitable.
  
  
• The re-introduction of the requirement on compliance schemes to provide the agencies with a Monitoring Plan
  
  
• the introduction of a requirement of accredited exporters to comply with the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 1994 – for further information please click here.
  
  
• the expansion of the definition of an Independent Audit to include environmental auditors