G/TBT/N/GBR/41  
23 August 2021  
(21-6335) Page: 1/2 
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 
Scottish Government  
2. Agency responsible:  Zero Waste Unit, Environmental Quality & Circular Economy, 
Environment and Forestry Directorate, Scottish Government.  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authori ty 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 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  • single -
use plastic expanded polystyrene beverage cups • single -use plastic expanded 
polystyrene beverage containers • single -use plastic expanded polystyrene food 
containers • single -use plastic cutlery • single -use plastic plates • single -use plastic 
beverage stirrers • single -use plastic straws, and • single -use plastic balloon sticks.; 
Tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and toilet articles, of plastics (excl. 
baths, shower -baths, washbasins, bidets , lavatory pans, seats and covers, flushing 
cisterns and similar sanitary ware) (HS 3924)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  The 
Environmental Protection (Single -use Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (9 
page(s) , in English)  
6. Description of content:  These regulations propose introducing market restrictions – 
effectively a ban – for problematic single -use plastic (SUP) items in line with Article 5 of 
the EU Single -Use Plastics Directive (EU) 2019/904 .  
The Regulations ban the supply, in the course of business, and the manufacture of:  
• single -use plastic expanded polystyrene beverage cups  
• single -use plastic expanded polystyrene beverage containers  
• single -use plastic expanded polystyrene food conta iners  
• single -use plastic cutlery  
• single -use plastic plates  
• single -use plastic beverage stirrers  G/TBT/N/GBR/41  
 
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  The Regulations ban the supply, in the course of a business and subject to specified 
exemptions of:  
• single -use plastic straws  
• single -use plastic balloon sticks.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  This measure is designed in reference to other WTO member's rules, such 
as the EU's, to prevent and reduce the impact on the environment, in particular t he 
aquatic environment, and human health. Tackling the negative impact that plastic waste 
has on our communities, oceans, rivers and land ecosystems has never been more 
important. Failing to act to protect our finite natural resources and to address the 
significant economic, social and environmental challenges associated with plastic litter is 
simply not an option. We must act to address the linear consumption model for single -
use plastic items which remains far too prevalent. Our current throwaway culture causes 
pollution of our ecosystems, biodiversity loss, increased carbon emissions and litter. By 
introducing market restrictions, the Scottish Government wishes to see innovative 
solutions towards more sustainable business models and re -use alternatives pr ioritised 
over substitution of materials. These regulations represent an important next step in our 
efforts to tackle our plastic problem, allowing us to maintain pace with leading 
environmental regulatory standards while re -affirming Scotland's position a s a world -
leader in the circular economy.  ; Protection of human health or safety; Protection of 
animal or plant life or health; Protection of the environment  
8. Relevant documents:   
-          Draft Business Regulation Impact Assessment (BRIA) (attached)  
-          Consultation and responses on introducing market restrictions on single -use 
plastic items in Scotland: https://consult.go v.scot/zero -waste -delivery/introducing -
market -restrictions -on-single -use-plas/ 
-          Draft regulations discussion paper: https://consult.g ov.scot/environment -
forestry/draft -environmental -protection -single -use-plastic/  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  November 2021  
Proposed date of entry into force:  June 2022  
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://members.wto.org/crnattachments /2021/TBT/GBR/21_5303_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/TBT/GBR/21_5303_01_e.pdf