Draft  Regulations  laid befor e Parliament  under  section  62(3)  of the Regulatory  Enfor cement  and 
Sanctions  Act 2008  (c. 13), for approval by resolution  of each  House  of Parliament. 
DRAFT  STATUT OR Y INSTRUMENTS 
2024  No. **** 
ENVIRONMENT AL PROTECTION , ENGLAND 
The Environmental  Protection  (Wet Wipes Containing  Plastic) 
(England)  Regulations  2024 
- - - - Made 
in accor dance  with regulation  1 - - Coming  into force 
The Secretary  of State  makes  these  Regulations  in exercise  of the powers  conferred  by section 
140(1)(b)  and (c), (3)(c)  and (d) and (9) of the Environmental  Protection  Act 1990 (a) (“the  1990 
Act”)  and section  62(2)  of the Regulatory  Enforcement  and Sanctions  Act 2008 (b) (“the  2008 
Act”). 
The Secretary  of State— 
(a) has published  a notice  in the London  Gazette  as required  by section  140(6)(b)  of the 1990 
Act(c) and has considered  the representations  made  in accordance  with that notice; 
(b) is satisfied  in accordance  with section  66 of the 2008  Act that local  authorities  (who  are 
regulators  for the purposes  of these  Regulations)  will act in accordance  with the principles 
referred  to in section  5(2) of that Act in exercising  a power  conferred  by these 
Regulations (d); 
(c) considers  it appropriate  to make  these  Regulations  for the purpose  of preventing  the articles 
specified  in them  from  causing  pollution  of the environment  and harm  to the health  of 
animals. 
In accordance  with section  62(3)  of the 2008  Act, a draft  of these  Regulations  has been  laid 
before,  and approved  by resolution  of, each House  of Parliament. 
(a) 1990  c. 43. Section  140(3)(c)  was amended  by S.I. 1999/1 108. 
(b) 2008  c. 13. 
(c) Section  140(6)(b)  was amended  by S.I. 2012/1923. 
(d) For the purposes  of these  Regulations,  “regulator”  has the meaning  given  by regulation  2, rather  than the meaning  given 
by section  37 of the 2008  Act. PART 1 
Introduction 
Citation,  commencement,  extent  and application 
1. —(1) These  Regulations  may be cited  as the Environmental  Protection  (Wet Wipes Containing 
Plastic)  (England)  Regulations  2024. 
(2) These  Regulations  come  into force  18 months  after the day on which  they are made. 
(3) These  Regulations  extend  to England  and Wales and apply  in relation  to England  only. 
Interpr etation 
2. In these  Regulations— 
“business”  includes— 
(a) a professional  practice; 
(b) any activity  carried  on by a body  of persons  whether  corporate  or unincorporated; 
and 
(c) the provision  of services  by or on behalf  of the Secretary  of State  under  the 
National  Health  Service  Act 2006 (a); 
“compliance  notice”  has the meaning  given  by paragraph  1(1)(b) of the Schedule ; 
“end  user”  means  any person  to whom  a product  is supplied,  other  than— 
(a) for the purposes  of supplying  it, in the course  of a business,  to another  person, 
or 
(b) for the purposes  of a manufacturing  process; 
“enforcement  undertaking”  has the meaning  given  by paragraph  17(2) of the Schedule ; 
“fixed  monetary  penalty”  has the meaning  given  by paragraph  1(1)(a) of the Schedule ; 
“local  authority”  means— 
(a) in relation  to the City of London,  the Common  Council  for the City of London; 
(b) in relation  to an area in the rest of London,  the London  borough  council  for that 
area; 
(c) in relation  to the Isles of Scilly , the Council  of the Isles of Scilly; 
(d) in relation  to an area in the rest of England,  the county  council  for that area or, 
where  there  is no county  council  for that area,  the district  council  for that area; 
“non-compliance  penalty”  has the meaning  given  by paragraph  24(1) of the Schedule ; 
“plastic”  means  a material  consisting  of polymer  as defined  in Article  3(5) of Regulation 
(EC)  No 1907/2006  concerning  the Registration,  Evaluation,  Authorisation  and Restriction 
of Chemicals  (REACH) (b), to which  additives  or other  substances  may have  been  added, 
and which  can function  as a main  structural  component  of final products,  with the exception 
of natural  polymers  that have  not been  chemically  modified; 
(a) 2006  c. 41. 
(b) EUR  2006/1907. 
2 “regulator”  means  a local  authority; 
“stop  notice”  has the meaning  given  by paragraph  9(2) of the Schedule ; 
“supply”  means  supply , whether  by way of sale or not; 
“third  party  undertaking”  has the meaning  given  by paragraph  3(1) of the Schedule ; 
“wet  wipe”  means  a non-woven  piece  of fabric  which  has been  soaked  and stored  in liquid 
and which  is not designed  or intended  to be re-used,  including  but not limited  to baby 
wipes,  cosmetic  wipes,  moist  toilet  tissues,  personal  hygiene  wipes  and wipe-based  cleaning 
products. 
PART 2 
Offence 
Offence 
3. —(1) A person  who,  in the course  of a business,  supplies  or offers to supply  to an end user 
wet wipes  containing  plastic  is guilty  of an offence. 
(2) Paragraph  (1) is subject  to the exemptions  in regulations  4 to 6. 
(3) A person  guilty  of an offence  under  paragraph  (1) is liable  on summary  conviction  to a 
fine. 
Exemption:  register ed pharmacies 
4. —(1) Regulation  3(1) does not apply  to the supply  of wet wipes  containing  plastic  by a retail 
pharmacy  business  in the cases  in paragraph  (2), provided  that the conditions  in paragraph  (3) 
are complied  with. 
(2) The cases  referred  to in paragraph  (1) are where  the wet wipes  containing  plastic  are supplied 
to an end user— 
(a) at a registered  pharmacy;  or 
(b) by means  of online  or other  distance  selling  arrangements. 
(3) The conditions  are that wet wipes  containing  plastic— 
(a) must  not be advertised  to customers  by the retail  pharmacy  business;  and 
(b) if supplied  at a registered  pharmacy— 
(i) must  not be kept in a place  where  they are visible  to customers,  or where  customers 
can access  them;  and 
(ii) must  not be offered  or provided  to a customer  unless  the customer  has requested 
them. 
(4) The condition  in paragraph  (3)(a) does not prohibit  the display  of wet wipes  containing 
plastic  for sale on a website  or application  through  which  the retail  pharmacy  business  sells 
products  online. 
(5) In this regulation , “registered  pharmacy”  and “retail  pharmacy  business”  have  the meanings 
given  in regulation  8(1) of the Human  Medicines  Regulations  2012 (a). 
(a) S.I. 2012/1916,  to which  there  are amendments  not relevant  to these  Regulations. 
3 Exemption:  medical  purposes 
5. —(1) Regulation  3(1) does not apply  to the supply  of wet wipes  containing  plastic— 
(a) for medical  purposes  by or under  the direction  of a health  care professional;  or 
(b) by a health  care professional  for medical  purposes. 
(2) In this regulation— 
(b) “healthcare  professional”  means  a person  who is a member  of a profession  that is 
regulated  by a body  mentioned  in section  25(3)  of the National  Health  Service  Reform 
and Health  Care  Professions  Act 2002 (a); 
(c) “medical  purposes”  means  the purposes  of preventative  medicine,  medical  diagnosis, 
medical  research  and the provision  of medical  care and treatment. 
Exemption:  business  supply  and local  authority  supply 
6. Regulation  3(1) does not apply  to the supply  of wet wipes  containing  plastic  to a business 
or local  authority . 
Defence  of due diligence  for suppliers 
7. —(1) Subject  to paragraphs  (2) and (4), in proceedings  for an offence  under  regulation  3(1), 
it is a defence  for a person  (“P”)  to show  that P took all reasonable  steps  and exercised  all due 
diligence  to avoid  committing  the offence. 
(2) P may not rely on a defence  under  paragraph  (1) which  involves  a third  party  allegation 
unless  P has— 
(a) served  a notice  in accordance  with paragraph  (3); or 
(b) obtained  the leave  of the court. 
(3) The notice  must— 
(a) give any information  in P’s possession  which  identifies  or assists  in identifying  the 
person  who— 
(i) committed  the act or default;  or 
(ii) supplied  the information  on which  P relied;  and 
(b) be served  on the person  bringing  the proceedings  not less than 7 clear  days before  the 
hearing  of the proceedings. 
(4) P may not rely on a defence  under  paragraph  (1) which  involves  an allegation  that the 
commission  of the offence  was due to reliance  on information  supplied  by another  person  unless 
it was reasonable  for P to have  relied  on the information,  having  regard  in particular  to— 
(a) the steps  that P took,  and those  which  might  reasonably  have been taken,  for the purposes 
of verifying  the information;  and 
(b) whether  P had any reason  to disbelieve  the information. 
(5) In this regulation , “third  party  allegation”  means  an allegation  that the commission  of the 
offence  was due to— 
(a) the act or default  of another  person;  or 
(b) reliance  on information  supplied  by another  person. 
(a) 2002  c. 17. 
4 Time limit  for the prosecution  of offences 
8. —(1) An information  relating  to an offence  under  regulation  3(1) may be tried if it is laid 
within  twelve  months  after the date on which  evidence  sufficient  in the opinion  of the prosecutor 
to justify  the proceedings  comes  to the knowledge  of the prosecutor . 
(2) No proceedings  are to be brought  more  than three  years  after the commission  of the offence. 
PART 3 
Enforcement  and civil sanctions 
Enfor cement 
9. —(1) A regulator  may authorise  any person  to exercise,  for an authorised  purpose  and in 
accordance  with the terms  of the authorisation,  any of the powers  specified  in regulation  11, if 
that person  appears  to the regulator  suitable  to exercise  them. 
(2) An authorisation  under  paragraph  (1) must  be in writing. 
(3) In this Part— 
“authorised  purpose”  means  the purpose  of determining  whether  an offence  under  regulation 
3(1) has been  or is being  committed,  or any requirement  of a compliance  notice,  a stop 
notice  or an enforcement  undertaking  under  these  Regulations  has been  or is being 
contravened; 
“enforcement  officer”  means  a person  authorised  under  paragraph  (1). 
Civil  sanctions 
10. The Schedule  (civil  sanctions)  has effect for the purpose  of the enforcement  of an offence 
under  regulation  3(1). 
Powers  of entry  and examination  etc. 
11. —(1) The powers  which  an enforcement  officer  may be authorised  to exercise  are— 
(a) to enter  at any reasonable  time any premises  (other  than premises  used wholly  or mainly 
as a dwelling)  which  the enforcement  officer  has reason  to suspect  it is necessary  to 
enter  for an authorised  purpose; 
(b) when  entering  any premises  under  sub-paragraph  (a)— 
(i) to be accompanied  by another  enforcement  officer;  and 
(ii) to bring  any equipment  or materials  required  for the authorised  purpose  in question; 
(c) on entering  any premises  under  sub-paragraph  (a)— 
(i) to make  such examination  and investigation  as may be necessary; 
(ii) to take such measurements  and photographs  and make  such recordings  as the 
enforcement  officer  considers  necessary  for the purpose  of any such examination 
or investigation;  and 
(iii) to require  the production  of, or where  the information  is recorded  in computerised 
form,  the furnishing  of extracts  from,  any documents  which  it is necessary  for the 
enforcement  officer  to see for the purposes  of any such examination  or investigation; 
(d) as regards  any premises  which  an enforcement  officer  has power  to enter  under 
sub-paragraph  (a), to direct  that those  premises  or any part of them,  or anything  in them, 
5 be left undisturbed  (whether  generally  or in particular  respects)  for so long as is 
reasonably  necessary  for the purpose  of examination  or investigation  under  sub-paragraph 
(c); 
(e) to take any samples,  or cause  samples  to be taken,  of any articles  or substances  found 
in or on any premises  which  an enforcement  officer  has power  to enter  under 
sub-paragraph  (a), and to cause  any such articles  or substances  to be analysed  or tested; 
(f) in the case of any such sample,  to take possession  of it and to retain  it for so long as 
is necessary  for all or any of the following  purposes— 
(i) to examine  it, and subject  it to any process  or test, or cause  it to be examined; 
(ii) to ensure  that it is not tampered  with before  the examination  is completed; 
(iii) to ensure  that it is available  for use as evidence  in any proceedings  for an offence 
under  these  Regulations. 
(2) Except  in an emer gency , where  an enforcement  officer  proposes  to enter  any premises  and— 
(a) entry  has been  refused  or the enforcement  officer  apprehends  on reasonable  grounds 
that entry  is likely  to be refused,  and 
(b) the enforcement  officer  apprehends  on reasonable  grounds  that the use of reasonable 
force  may be necessary  to effect entry , 
any entry  onto those  premises  by virtue  of paragraph  (1)(a) may only be effected  under  the 
authority  of a warrant. 
(3) Nothing  in paragraph  (1)(c)(iii) compels  the production  by a person  of any documents  of 
which  that person  would  on grounds  of legal  professional  privilege  be entitled  to withhold 
production  on an order  for disclosure  in an action  in the County  Court  or High  Court. 
(4) An enforcement  officer  may only exercise  the powers  in paragraph  (1) in the reasonable 
belief  that an offence  under  regulation  3(1) has been  or is being  committed. 
(5) An enforcement  officer  seeking  to exercise  a power  under  paragraph  (1) must  produce 
evidence  of identity  and authority  if requested  by a person  who is, or appears  to be— 
(a) a supplier  of wet wipes  containing  plastic  or an employee  of such a supplier; 
(b) the owner  or occupier  of any premises  in which  the enforcement  officer  seeks  to exercise 
the power  concerned. 
(6) If a justice  of the peace,  on sworn  information  in writing,  is satisfied— 
(a) that there  are reasonable  grounds  to enter  any premises  in exercise  of the power  in 
paragraph  (1)(a); and 
(b) that any of the conditions  in paragraph  (2)(a) or (b) is met, 
the justice  of the peace  may by warrant  authorise  an enforcement  officer  to enter  the premises, 
if need  be by reasonable  force. 
Publication  of information  about  enfor cement  action 
12. —(1) Where  a regulator  imposes  civil sanctions  under  these  Regulations  in relation  to an 
offence  under  regulation  3(1), the regulator  must  from  time to time publish— 
(a) the cases  in which  the civil sanction  has been  imposed; 
(b) where  the civil sanction  is a fixed  monetary  penalty  or compliance  notice,  the cases  in 
which  a third  party  undertaking  has been  accepted;  and 
(c) the cases  in which  an enforcement  undertaking  has been  entered  into. 
(2) In paragraph  (1)(a), the reference  to cases  in which  the civil sanction  has been  imposed 
does not include  cases  where  the sanction  has been  imposed  but overturned  on appeal. 
6 (3) This regulation  does not apply  in cases  where  the regulator  considers  that publication  would 
be inappropriate. 
PART 4 
Supplementary 
Guidance 
13. —(1) Each  regulator  must  publish  guidance  about  its use of civil sanctions  under  these 
Regulations  in relation  to an offence  under  regulation  3(1). 
(2) In the case of guidance  relating  to a fixed  monetary  penalty , compliance  notice  or stop 
notice,  the guidance  must  contain  the relevant  information  set out in paragraph  (3). 
(3) The relevant  information  referred  to in paragraph  (2) is information  as to— 
(a) the circumstances  in which  the penalty  or notice  is likely  to be imposed; 
(b) the circumstances  in which  it may not be imposed; 
(c) rights  to make  representations  and objections  and rights  of appeal;  and 
(d) in the case of a fixed  monetary  penalty , the amount  of the penalty , how liability  for the 
penalty  may be dischar ged and the effect of dischar ge. 
(4) The regulator  must  revise  the guidance  where  appropriate. 
(5) The regulator  must  consult  such persons  as it considers  appropriate  before  publishing  any 
guidance  or revised  guidance  under  this regulation . 
(6) The regulator  must  have regard  to the guidance  or revised  guidance  in exercising  its functions. 
Review 
14. —(1) The Secretary  of State  must— 
(a) as soon  as reasonably  practicable  after the end of the period  of three  years  from  the 
date on which  these  Regulations  come  into force  carry  out a review  of the operation  of 
the provisions  in Part 3 (enforcement  and civil sanctions)  and the Schedule ; 
(b) from  time to time carry  out a review  of the regulatory  provision  contained  in these 
Regulations  (including  Part 3 and the Schedule ); and 
(c) publish  a report  setting  out the conclusions  of any review . 
(2) In the case of a review  under  paragraph  (1)(a)— 
(a) section  67 of the Regulatory  Enforcement  and Sanctions  Act 2008  requires  that the 
review  must  in particular  consider  whether  the provision  has implemented  its objectives 
efficiently  and effectively; 
(b) the Secretary  of State,  in conducting  the review , must  consult  such persons  as the 
Secretary  of State  considers  appropriate;  and 
(c) the Secretary  of State  must  lay a copy  of the report  under  paragraph  (1)(c) before 
Parliament. 
(3) In the case of a review  under  paragraph  (1)(b)— 
(a) the first report  must  be published  before  the expiry  of the period  ending  five years  from 
the date on which  these  Regulations  come  into force; 
(b) subsequent  reports  must  be published  at intervals  not exceeding  five years;  and 
7 (c) section  30(4)  of the Small  Business,  Enterprise  and Employment  Act 2015 (a) requires 
that a report  published  under  this regulation  must,  in particular— 
(i) set out the objectives  intended  to be achieved  by the regulatory  provision  referred 
to in paragraph  (1)(b); 
(ii) assess  the extent  to which  those  objectives  are achieved; 
(iii) assess  whether  those  objectives  remain  appropriate;  and 
(iv) if those  objectives  remain  appropriate,  assess  the extent  to which  they could  be 
achieved  in another  way which  involves  less onerous  regulatory  provision. 
(4) In this regulation  “regulatory  provision”  has the same  meaning  as in sections  28 to 32 of 
the Small  Business,  Enterprise  and Employment  Act 2015  (see section  32 of that Act). 
Name 
Parliamentary  Under  Secretary  of State 
Department  for Environment,  Food  and Rural  Affairs Date 
(a) 2015  c. 26. There  are amendments  to section  30 that are not relevant  to these  Regulations. 
8 Regulation  10 SCHEDULE 
Civil  Sanctions 
PART 1 
Fixed  Monetary  Penalties  and Compliance  Notices 
Imposition  of a fixed  monetary  penalty  or compliance  notice 
1. —(1) In relation  to an offence  under  regulation  3(1), a regulator  may by notice  impose— 
(a) a requirement  to pay to the regulator  a penalty  of £200  (a “fixed  monetary  penalty”); 
or 
(b) a requirement  to take such steps  as the regulator  may specify , within  such period  as it 
may specify , to secure  that the offence  does not continue  or recur  (a “compliance  notice”). 
(2) Before  doing  so the regulator  must  be satisfied  beyond  reasonable  doubt  that the person 
has committed  the offence. 
(3) A requirement  under  sub-paragraph  (1)(a) or (b) may not be imposed  on a person  on more 
than one occasion  in relation  to the same  act or omission. 
Notice  of intent 
2. —(1) Where  a regulator  proposes  to serve  a fixed  monetary  penalty  or a compliance  notice 
on a person,  the regulator  must  serve  on that person  a notice  of what  is proposed  (a “notice  of 
intent”). 
(2) The notice  of intent  must  include— 
(a) the grounds  for the proposed  fixed  monetary  penalty  or compliance  notice; 
(b) the requirements  of the proposed  compliance  notice  and, in the case of a penalty , the 
amount  to be paid; 
(c) information  as to— 
(i) the right  to make  representations  and objections  within  28 days beginning  with the 
day on which  the notice  of intent  was received;  and 
(ii) the circumstances  in which  the regulator  may not impose  the fixed  monetary  penalty 
or compliance  notice. 
(3) A notice  of intent  to serve  a fixed  monetary  penalty  must  also offer the person  on whom 
the notice  is served  the opportunity  to dischar ge their liability  for the penalty  by paying  the sum 
of £100  to the regulator  within  28 days beginning  with the day on which  the notice  is received. 
(4) A person’ s liability  to a fixed  monetary  penalty  is dischar ged if the person  pays the sum 
of £100  to the regulator  within  the time period  specified  in sub-paragraph  (3). 
(5) A person  on whom  a notice  of intent  is served  may, within  28 days beginning  with the day 
on which  the notice  was received,  make  representations  and objections  to the regulator  in relation 
to the proposed  imposition  of a fixed  monetary  penalty  or compliance  notice. 
(6) Sub-paragraph  (5) does not apply  in relation  to a notice  of intent  to serve  a fixed  monetary 
penalty  if the person  makes  a payment  in accordance  with sub-paragraph  (4). 
9 Third  party  undertakings 
3. —(1) A person  on whom  a notice  of intent  is served  in relation  to a proposed  compliance 
notice  may offer an undertaking  as to action  to be taken  by that person  (including  the payment 
of a sum of money)  to benefit  any third party  affected  by the offence  (a “third  party  undertaking”). 
(2) The regulator  may accept  or reject  any such third  party  undertaking. 
Final  notice 
4. —(1) After  the end of the period  for making  representations  and objections,  the regulator 
must  decide  whether— 
(a) to impose  the requirements  in the notice  of intent,  with or without  modifications;  or 
(b) to impose  any other  requirement  that the regulator  has power  to impose  under  this Part. 
(2) Where  the regulator  decides  to impose  a requirement,  the notice  imposing  it (the “final 
notice”)  must  comply  with paragraph  5, in the case of a fixed  monetary  penalty , or paragraph  6, 
in the case of a compliance  notice. 
(3) The regulator  may not impose  a final notice  on a person  where  the regulator  is satisfied 
that the person  would  not, by reason  of any defence,  be liable  to be convicted  of the offence  to 
which  the notice  relates. 
(4) The regulator  must  take into account  any third  party  undertaking  that it accepts  in deciding 
whether  or not to serve  a final notice. 
Contents  of final  notice:  fixed  monetary  penalty 
5. A final notice  for a fixed  monetary  penalty  must  include  information  as to— 
(a) the grounds  for imposing  the penalty; 
(b) the amount  to be paid; 
(c) how payment  may be made; 
(d) the period  within  which  payment  must  be made,  which  must  be not less than 28 days; 
(e) the rights  of appeal;  and 
(f) the consequences  of failing  to comply  with the notice. 
Contents  of final  notice:  compliance  notice 
6. A final notice  relating  to a compliance  notice  must  include  information  as to— 
(a) the grounds  for imposing  the notice; 
(b) what  compliance  is required  and the period  within  which  it must  be completed; 
(c) rights  of appeal;  and 
(d) the consequences  of failing  to comply  with the notice. 
Appeals  against  final  notice 
7. —(1) The person  receiving  the final notice  may appeal  against  it. 
(2) The grounds  for appeal  are— 
(a) that the decision  was based  on an error  of fact; 
(b) that the decision  was wrong  in law; 
(c) in the case of a compliance  notice,  that the nature  of the requirement  is unreasonable; 
10 (d) that the decision  is unreasonable  for any other  reason; 
(e) any other  reason. 
Criminal  proceedings 
8. —(1) If— 
(a) a fixed  monetary  penalty  or compliance  notice  is served  on any person,  or 
(b) a third  party  undertaking  is accepted  from  any person, 
that person  may not at any time be convicted  of the offence  in respect  of the act or omission 
giving  rise to the fixed  monetary  penalty , compliance  notice  or third  party  undertaking  except  in 
a case referred  to in sub-paragraph  (2). 
(2) The case referred  to in sub-paragraph  (1) is a case where— 
(a) a compliance  notice  is imposed  on a person  or a third  party  undertaking  is accepted 
from  a person; 
(b) no fixed  monetary  penalty  is imposed  on that person;  and 
(c) that person  fails to comply  with the compliance  notice  or third  party  undertaking. 
PART 2 
Stop Notices 
Stop  notices 
9. —(1) A regulator  may serve  a stop notice  on any person  in a case falling  within  sub-paragraph 
(3) or (4). 
(2) A “stop  notice”  is a notice  prohibiting  a person  from  carrying  on an activity  specified  in 
the notice  until the person  has taken  the steps  specified  in the notice. 
(3) A case falling  within  this sub-paragraph  is a case where  the regulator  reasonably  believes 
that— 
(a) the person  is carrying  on the activity; 
(b) the activity  as carried  on by that person  is causing,  or presents  a significant  risk of 
causing,  serious  harm  to the environment  (including  the health  of animals);  and 
(c) the activity  as carried  on by that person  involves  or is likely  to involve  the commission 
of an offence  under  regulation  3(1). 
(4) A case falling  within  this sub-paragraph  is a case where  the regulator  reasonably  believes 
that— 
(a) the person  is likely  to carry  on the activity; 
(b) the activity  as likely  to be carried  on by that person  will cause,  or will present  a 
significant  risk of causing,  serious  harm  to the environment  (including  the health  of 
animals);  and 
(c) the activity  as likely  to be carried  on by that person  will involve  or will be likely  to 
involve  the commission  of an offence  under  regulation  3(1). 
(5) The steps  referred  to in sub-paragraph  (2) must  be steps  to remove  or reduce  the harm  or 
risk of harm  to the environment  (including  the health  of animals). 
11 Contents  of a stop notice 
10. A stop notice  must  include  information  as to— 
(a) the grounds  for serving  the notice; 
(b) the steps  the person  must  take to comply  with the stop notice; 
(c) rights  of appeal;  and 
(d) the consequences  of non-compliance. 
Appeals  against  stop notices 
11. —(1) The person  on whom  a stop notice  is served  may appeal  against  the decision  to serve 
it. 
(2) The grounds  for appeal  are— 
(a) that the decision  was based  on an error  of fact; 
(b) that the decision  was wrong  in law; 
(c) that the decision  was unreasonable; 
(d) that any step specified  in the notice  is unreasonable; 
(e) that the person  has not committed  the offence  and would  not have  committed  it had the 
stop notice  not been  served; 
(f) that the person  would  not, by reason  of any defence,  have  been  liable  to be convicted 
of the offence  had the stop notice  not been  served; 
(g) any other  reason. 
Completion  certificates 
12. —(1) Where,  after service  of a stop notice,  the regulator  is satisfied  that the person  has 
taken  the steps  specified  in the notice,  the regulator  must  issue  a certificate  to that effect (“a 
completion  certificate”). 
(2) The stop notice  ceases  to have  effect on the issue  of a completion  certificate. 
(3) The person  on whom  the stop notice  is served  may at any time apply  for a completion 
certificate. 
(4) The regulator  must  make  a decision  as to whether  to issue  a completion  certificate,  and 
give written  notice  of the decision  to the applicant,  within  14 days of such an application. 
Appeals  against  decision  not to issue  a completion  certificate 
13. The person  on whom  the stop notice  was served  may appeal  against  a decision  not to issue 
a completion  certification  on the grounds  that the decision— 
(a) was based  on an error  of fact; 
(b) was wrong  in law; 
(c) was unfair  or unreasonable; 
(d) was wrong  for any other  reason. 
Compensation 
14. The regulator  must  compensate  a person  for loss suffered  as the result  of the service  of a 
stop notice  or the refusal  of a completion  certificate  if— 
12 (a) the stop notice  is subsequently  withdrawn  or amended  by the regulator  because  the 
decision  to serve  it was unreasonable  or any step specified  in the notice  was unreasonable; 
(b) the person  successfully  appeals  against  the stop notice  and the First-tier  Tribunal  finds 
that the service  of the notice  was unreasonable;  or 
(c) the person  successfully  appeals  against  the refusal  of a completion  certificate  and the 
First-tier  Tribunal  finds  that the refusal  was unreasonable. 
Appeal  against  compensation  decision 
15. A person  may appeal  against  a decision  not to award  compensation  or the amount  of 
compensation  awarded— 
(a) on the grounds  that the regulator ’s decision  was unreasonable; 
(b) on the grounds  that the amount  offered  was based  on incorrect  facts; 
(c) for any other  reason. 
Offence 
16. —(1) Where  a person  on whom  a stop notice  is served  does not comply  with it within  the 
time limit  specified  in the notice,  the person  is guilty  of an offence  and liable— 
(a) on summary  conviction,  to a fine, or imprisonment  for a term not exceeding  six months, 
or both;  or 
(b) on conviction  on indictment,  to imprisonment  for a term not exceeding  two years,  or a 
fine, or both. 
PART 3 
Enforcement  Undertakings 
Enfor cement  undertakings 
17. —(1) A regulator  may accept  a written  undertaking  given  by a person  in a case where  the 
regulator  has reasonable  grounds  to suspect  that the person  has committed  an offence  under 
regulation  3(1). 
(2) An “enforcement  undertaking”  is a written  undertaking  to take such action  as may be 
specified  in the undertaking  within  such period  as may be so specified. 
Contents  of an enfor cement  undertaking 
18. —(1) An enforcement  undertaking  must  specify— 
(a) action  to secure  the offence  does not continue  or recur; 
(b) action  (including  the payment  of a sum of money)  to benefit  any person  affected  by the 
offence;  or 
(c) action  that will secure  benefit  to the environment  equivalent  to restoration  of what  has 
been,  or is likely  to have  been,  damaged  or destroyed  by the commission  of the offence. 
(2) It must  specify  the period  within  which  the action  must  be completed. 
(3) It must  include— 
(a) a statement  that the undertaking  is made  in accordance  with this Schedule ; 
(b) the terms  of the undertaking;  and 
13 (c) information  as to how and when  the person  giving  that undertaking  is to be considered 
to have  dischar ged the undertaking. 
(4) The enforcement  undertaking  may be varied,  or the period  within  which  the action  must  be 
completed  may be extended,  if both parties  agree  in writing. 
Acceptance  of an enfor cement  undertaking 
19. If a regulator  has accepted  an enforcement  undertaking,  then,  unless  the person  from  whom 
the undertaking  is accepted  has failed  to comply  with the undertaking  or any part of it— 
(a) that person  may not at any time be convicted  of the offence  in respect  of the act or 
omission  to which  the undertaking  relates;  and 
(b) a regulator  may not impose  on that person  a fixed  monetary  penalty , a compliance  notice 
or a stop notice  in respect  of that act or omission. 
Discharge  of an enfor cement  undertaking 
20. —(1) If a regulator  that has accepted  an enforcement  undertaking  is satisfied  that the 
enforcement  undertaking  has been  complied  with,  it must  issue  a certificate  to that effect. 
(2) The regulator  may require  the person  who has given  the undertaking  to provide  sufficient 
information  to determine  that the undertaking  has been  complied  with. 
(3) The person  who gave  the undertaking  may at any time apply  for such a certificate. 
(4) The regulator  must  decide  whether  to issue  such a certificate,  and give written  notice  of 
the decision  to the applicant,  within  14 days of such an application. 
Appeals  against  a decision  not to issue  a certificate 
21. The person  to whom  a notice  is given  under  paragraph  20(4) may appeal  against  a decision 
not to issue  a certificate  under  paragraph  20 on the grounds  that the decision— 
(a) was based  on an error  of fact; 
(b) was wrong  in law; 
(c) was unfair  or unreasonable; 
(d) was wrong  for any other  reason. 
Inaccurate,  misleading  or incomplete  information 
22. —(1) A person  who has given  inaccurate,  misleading  or incomplete  information  in relation 
to an enforcement  undertaking  is to be taken  not to have  complied  with it. 
(2) A regulator  may by notice  in writing  revoke  a certificate  which  it issued  under  paragraph 
20 if it was issued  on the basis  of inaccurate,  misleading  or incomplete  information. 
Non-compliance  with  an enfor cement  undertaking 
23. —(1) If an enforcement  undertaking  is not complied  with,  the regulator  that accepted  the 
undertaking  may either— 
(a) serve  a fixed  monetary  penalty  notice,  compliance  notice,  non-compliance  penalty  or 
stop notice;  or 
(b) bring  criminal  proceedings. 
14 (2) If a person  has complied  partly  but not fully  with an enforcement  undertaking,  that partial 
compliance  must  be taken  into account  in the imposition  of any criminal  or other  sanction  on the 
person. 
(3) Criminal  proceedings  for an offence  to which  an enforcement  undertaking  relates  may be 
instituted  at any time up to six months  from  the date on which  the regulator  notifies  the person 
required  to comply  with that undertaking  of that person’ s failure  to do so. 
PART 4 
Non-Compliance  Penalties 
Non-compliance  penalties 
24. —(1) If a person  fails to comply  with a compliance  notice  or a third  party  undertaking,  the 
regulator  may serve  a notice  on that person  imposing  a monetary  penalty  (a “non-compliance 
penalty”)  in respect  of the same  offence. 
(2) The amount  of the penalty  must  be determined  by the regulator , and must  be a percentage 
of the costs  of fulfilling  the remaining  requirements  of the compliance  notice  or third  party 
undertaking. 
(3) The percentage  must  be determined  by the regulator  having  regard  to all the circumstances 
of the case and may, if appropriate,  be 100%. 
(4) The notice  must  include  information  as to— 
(a) the grounds  for imposing  the non-compliance  penalty; 
(b) the amount  to be paid; 
(c) how payment  may be made; 
(d) the period  in which  payment  must  be made,  which  must  not be less that 28 days; 
(e) the rights  of appeal; 
(f) the consequences  of failure  to make  payment  in the specified  period;  and 
(g) any circumstances  in which  the regulator  may reduce  the amount  of the penalty . 
(5) If the requirements  of the compliance  notice  are complied  with or the third party  undertaking 
is fulfilled  before  the time set for payment  of the non-compliance  penalty , the penalty  is not 
payable. 
Appeals  against  non-compliance  penalties 
25. —(1) The person  on whom  the notice  imposing  the non-compliance  penalty  is served  may 
appeal  against  it. 
(2) The grounds  of appeal  are— 
(a) that the decision  to serve  the notice  was based  on an error  of fact; 
(b) that the decision  was wrong  in law; 
(c) that the decision  was unfair  or unreasonable; 
(d) that the amount  of the penalty  was unreasonable; 
(e) any other  reason. 
15 PART 5 
Administration  and Appeals 
Withdrawing  or amending  a notice 
26. A regulator  may at any time in writing— 
(a) withdraw  a notice  imposing  a fixed  monetary  penalty  or a notice  imposing  a 
non-compliance  penalty , or reduce  the amount  specified  in a notice  imposing  a 
non-compliance  penalty;  or 
(b) withdraw  a compliance  notice  or stop notice,  or amend  the steps  specified,  in order  to 
reduce  the amount  of work  necessary  to comply  with the notice. 
Enfor cement  cost recovery  notices 
27. —(1) A regulator  may serve  a notice  (an “enforcement  cost recovery  notice”)  on a person 
on whom  a relevant  notice  has been  served  requiring  that person  to pay the costs  incurred  by the 
regulator  in relation  to the imposition  of the requirement  imposed  by the relevant  notice  up to 
the time of its imposition. 
(2) In sub-paragraph  (1), a “relevant  notice”  means  a compliance  notice  or stop notice. 
(3) “Costs”  include  in particular— 
(a) investigation  costs; 
(b) administration  costs;  and 
(c) costs  of obtaining  expert  advice  (including  legal  advice). 
(4) The enforcement  cost recovery  notice  must  specify— 
(a) how payment  may be made; 
(b) the amount  required  to be paid; 
(c) the period  in which  payment  must  be made,  which  must  not be less than 28 days; 
(d) the grounds  for imposing  the notice; 
(e) the right  of appeal;  and 
(f) the consequences  of a failure  to comply  with the notice  in the specified  period. 
(5) The person  on whom  the notice  is served  may require  the regulator  to provide  a detailed 
breakdown  of the amount. 
(6) The person  required  to pay costs  is not liable  to pay any costs  shown  by that person  to 
have  been  unnecessarily  incurred. 
(7) Each  regulator  must  publish  guidance  about  its use of enforcement  costs  recovery  notices. 
(8) The regulator  must  revise  the guidance  where  appropriate. 
(9) The regulator  must  have regard  to the guidance  or revised  guidance  in exercising  its functions. 
Appeals  against  enfor cement  cost recovery  notices 
28. The person  required  to pay costs  may appeal— 
(a) against  the decision  of the regulator  to impose  the requirement  to pay costs; 
(b) against  the decision  of the regulator  as to the amount  of those  costs; 
(c) for any other  reason. 
16 Power  to recover  payments 
29. A regulator  may recover  any fixed  monetary  penalty  or non-compliance  penalty  imposed 
under  this Schedule , on the order  of a court,  as if payable  under  a court  order . 
Appeals:  general  provisions 
30. —(1) An appeal  under  paragraph  7, 11, 13, 15, 21, 25 or 28 of this Schedule  is to the 
First-tier  Tribunal. 
(2) All notices  (other  than stop notices)  are suspended  pending  the determination  or withdrawal 
of the appeal. 
(3) The First-tier  Tribunal  may, in relation  to the imposition  of a requirement  or service  of a 
notice  under  this Schedule — 
(a) withdraw  the requirement  or notice; 
(b) confirm  the requirement  or notice; 
(c) vary the requirement  or notice; 
(d) take such steps  as the regulator  could  have taken  in relation  to the act or omission  giving 
rise to the requirement  or notice;  or 
(e) remit  the decision  whether  to confirm  the requirement  or notice,  or any matter  relating 
to that decision,  to the regulator . 
17 EXPLANA TORY NOTE 
(This  note is not part of the Regulations) 
These  Regulations,  which  apply  in relation  to England,  prohibit  persons  from  supplying  or offering 
to supply  wet wipes  containing  plastic. 
Part 2 prohibits  the supply  of wet wipes  containing  plastic  subject  to certain  exceptions  (regulations 
4 to 6). The exceptions  include  the supply  of wet wipes  containing  plastic  by registered  pharmacies, 
for medical  purposes,  or to local  authorities.  Breach  of the prohibition  is an offence  (regulation 
3), subject  to the mutual  recognition  principle  in the United  Kingdom  Internal  Market  Act 2020 
(c. 27)where  applicable. 
A civil sanctions  regime  is also introduced  to enable  regulators  to impose  a range  of civil sanctions 
(regulation  10 and the Schedule ). These  are fixed  monetary  penalties,  compliance  notices,  stop 
notices  and enforcement  undertakings.  These  Regulations  make  provision  for the procedure  relating 
to these  sanctions  and the available  appeal  mechanisms.  Failure  to comply  with a stop notice  is 
an offence  (paragraph  16 of the Schedule ). All appeals  relating  to a civil sanction  are to the 
First-tier  Tribunal. 
Regulations  9 and 11 provide  for enforcement  officers  to have  powers  of entry  to carry  out the 
necessary  investigation  in order  to determine  whether  an offence  has been  committed. 
Regulation  12 provides  for the publication  of information  on enforcement  action  taken  by 
regulators.  Regulation  13 provides  that guidance  relating  to the use of civil sanctions  must  be 
prepared  and consulted  on and specifies  information  to be included  in such guidance.  Regulation 
14 contains  provision  for review  of the Regulations. 
Regulators  are able to recover  the costs  of enforcement  (paragraph  27 of the Schedule ) in the 
case of compliance  notices  and stop notices  and must  issue  guidance  about  their use of enforcement 
cost recovery  notices. 
[A full impact  assessment  of the effect that these  Regulations  will have  on the costs  of business 
and the voluntary  sectors  is available  from  the XX Team at the Department  for Environment, 
Food  and Rural  Affairs,  2 Marsham  Street,  London  SW1P  4DF, and is also available  together 
with these  Regulations  at www .legislation.gov .uk.] 
18