G/TBT/N/GBR/51  
17 August 2022  
(22-6258) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED KINGDOM  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):  The Welsh 
Government  
2. Agency responsible:   
Local Environment Quality Branch, Environmental Protection Division, Department for 
Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs, Welsh Government  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if availab le) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
TBT Enquiry Point,  
Department for International Trade,  
Old Admiralty Building,  
Admiralty Place,  
Whitehall,  
London,  
SW1A 2DY  
TBTEnquiriesUK@trade.gov.uk  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  ], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [X], 7.2 [  ], 
other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Articles 
for the conveyance or packing of goods, of plastics; stoppers, lids, caps and other 
closures, of plastics. (HS code(s): 3923); Tableware, kitchenware, other household 
articles and hygienic or toilet articles, of plastics. (HS code(s): 3924)  
· single -use plastic plates  
· single -use plastic cutlery  
· single -use plastic drinks stirrers  
· single -use plastic drinking straws (including attached straws)  
· single -use plastic cups made of polystyrene  
· single -use plastic takeaway food containers made of polystyrene  
· single -use plastic cup and takeaway food container lids made of polystyrene  
· single -use plastic -stemmed cotton buds  
· single -use plastic sticks for balloons  
· products made of oxo -degradable plastic and  
· single -use plastic carrier bags (SUCBs)  G/TBT/N/GBR/51  
 
- 2 - 
 
  5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  The 
Environmental Protection (Single -use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill; (17 page(s), in 
English)  
6. Description of content:  The introduction of The Environmental Protection (Single -use 
Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill will make it an offence for a person to supply or offer to 
supply (including for free), the following commonly littered and unnecessary disp osable 
single -use plastic (SUP) products to a consumer in Wales:  
· plates  
· cutlery  
· drinks stirrers  
· drinking straws (including attached straws)  
· cups made of polystyrene  
· takeaway food containers made of polystyrene  
· cup and takeaway food container lids made of polystyrene  
· plastic -stemmed cotton buds  
· sticks for balloons  
· oxo-degradable products  
· plastic single -use carrier bags (SUCBs)  
Initially proposed in 2020, the scope of the proposals have been expanded to tackle the 
negative impacts of plastic pollution on our environment, and engagement is on -going to 
develop the legislation.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Tackling the negative impacts from plastic pollution on our environment, 
wildlife, health and wellbeing is a key priority for Welsh Ministers as it aligns with the 
Wellbeing of Fut ure Generations Act  which requires the Welsh Government to consider 
the long -term impact of our decisions and is also a Programme for Government 
commitment.  
The majority of the single use items included in our legislation are often provided to consumers at  low, or no cost, with an accompanying purchase of food or drink. These items are very small and are of low individual value, both to the end consumer and the retailer. The cost and effort of separating, cleaning and processing them for recycling is, there fore, deemed not worthwhile.  
Consequently, a high volume of these products are discarded into general waste, either 
by the end consumer or the retailer, or are littered. When littered they enter into rivers 
and our marine environment, causing environmental  damage and harm to our wildlife.  
The introduction of this legislation is a first key step in our phased approach to shifting 
away from our throwaway culture. By removing these single use plastic items from the 
supply chain, we will prevent this pollution from occurring in the first place. It will also 
encourage businesses to move towards making more reusable, more easily recyclable 
and less environmentally harmful alternatives.; Protection of animal or plant life or health; 
Protection of the environment  
8. Relevant documents:   
Reducing Single -use plastic consultation summary of responses  
Consultation on Reducing single use plastics  
The Environmental Protection (Plastic Straws, Cotton Buds and Stirrers) (England) 
Regulations 2020  
The Environmental Protection (Single -use Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021  
Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015  G/TBT/N/GBR/51  
 
- 3 - 
 
  9. Proposed date of adoption:  November 2022  
Proposed date of entry into force:  July 2023  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
National Enquiry Point  
UK TBT Enquiry Point  
Trade Policy Group  
Department for International Trade  
Old Admiralty Building  
Admiralty Place  
Whitehall  
London  
SW1A 2DY  
TBTEnquiriesUK@trade.gov.uk  
https://gov.wales/draft -environmental -protection -single -use-plastic -products -wales -bill