Emergency changes to EPR legislation announced by DEFRA

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has introduced urgent amendments to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations, aiming to provide clarity and flexibility for businesses ahead of the scheme’s full implementation in October 2025.

Key Updates:

• Revised recycling targets: The government has set new recycling targets for packaging materials, effective from 2025 through 2030. These targets are designed to encourage the use of recyclable materials and reduce environmental impact.
• Labelling requirements deferred: Mandatory recyclability labelling for packaging has been postponed to 1 April 2027, giving businesses additional time to comply with the new standards.
• Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) contingency: If a DRS is not operational by 1 January 2028, producers of PET plastic, aluminium, and steel drinks containers will be subject to full EPR obligations until such a scheme is in place.
• Exclusion of litter payments: Provisions for payments related to littered packaging waste have been removed from the current regulations and will be addressed separately.
• Guidance on disposal costs: The Scheme Administrator is now required to provide clear guidance on the methodology used to assess net efficient disposal costs and effectiveness.

These amendments reflect the government’s response to industry feedback and aim to balance environmental objectives with practical implementation considerations.

To learn more and stay up to date with industry developments, visit DEFRA (PackUK) at London Packaging Week, stand C54, and speak with their team.