The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Act 2023

A Welsh Government Bill, introduced by Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change. The Bill was referred to the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee for Stage 2 proceedings, following agreement of the general principles by the Senedd.

About the Bill

The Bill proposes:

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>>>To make it an offence for a person to supply or offer to supply (including for free), the following commonly littered and unnecessary disposable single-use plastic (SUP) products to a consumer in Wales:

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***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

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Further detail about the Bill (PDF 227 KB) can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 1.5MB).

Current Stage

BillStageAct

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Act 2023 became law in Wales 6 June 2023.

An explanation of the various stages of Senedd Bills is available in the Guide to the Stages of Public Bills and Acts.

Record of Passage in the Welsh Parliament

¬¬¬Date of Royal Assent (6 June 2023)

Royal Assent (PDF 162KB) was given on 6 June 2023.

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¬¬¬Post-Stage 4

The Secretary of State for Wales (PDF 216KB) and the Counsel General (PDF 163KB) wrote to the Llywydd to advise that they would not be referring the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill to the Supreme Court under Sections 112 and 114 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 – 23 December 2022 and 3 January 2023

The First Minister wrote to the Llywydd (PDF 128KB) regarding the Government’s intentions in relation to Royal Assent and coming into force of the Act – 22 March 2023

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¬¬¬Stage 4 (6 December 2022)

Stage 4 proceedings took place in Plenary on 6 December 2022.

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill (PDF 226 KB), as passed

Presiding Officer’s statement in accordance with Section 111A(3) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (PDF 136KB)

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¬¬¬Stage 3, Plenary consideration of amendments (10 November 2022 – 6 December 2022)

Stage 3 began on 10 November 2022. Stage 3 consideration took place in Plenary on 06 December 2022 to consider amendments to the Bill (as amended at Stage 2).

The order of consideration for Stage 3 amendments was agreed in Plenary on Tuesday 29 November. Under Standing Order 26.36, it was agreed that Stage 3 amendments would be disposed of in the following order:

Section 1; Section 2; Schedule 1; Sections 3-23;Long Title.

Notice of Amendments (PDF 86KB) – 24 November 2022

Purpose and effect table (PDF 116KB) – 25 November 2022

Notice of Amendments (PDF 173KB) – 29 November 2022

Marshalled List of Amendments (PDF 179KB) – 30 November 2022

Grouping of Amendments (PDF 92KB) – 2 December 2022

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill (PDF 221KB), as amended at Stage 3

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¬¬¬Stage 2, Committee consideration of amendments (12 October 2022– 09 November 2022)

Stage 2 began on 12 October 2022.

The Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee agreed on 20 October 2022, under Standing Order 26.21, that the order of consideration for Stage 2 proceedings would be:

Section 1; Section 2; Schedule 1; Sections 3-23; Long Title

Notice of Amendments (PDF 123KB) – 31 October 2022

Purpose and effect table (PDF 118KB) – 31 October 2022

Notice of Amendments (PDF 257KB) – 2 November 2022

Marshalled List of Amendments (PDF 253KB) – 4 November 2022

Grouping of Amendments (PDF 96KB) – 4 November 2022

Stage 2 consideration took place in committee on 9 November 2022.

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill (PDF 224KB), as amended at Stage 2

Revised Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 1048KB)

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¬¬¬ Financial Resolution

In accordance with Standing Order 26.68 the Presiding Officer has indicated that a financial resolution is required for this Bill. Further information about financial resolutions is available in section 3 of the Guide to the scrutiny stages for Public Bills.

A Financial Resolution was agreed in Plenary on 11 October 2022.

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¬¬¬Stage 1

Following a request by the Welsh Government, and having consulted the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee, the Business Committee agreed (PDF 41KB) not to refer the Bill to a responsible committee for Stage 1 scrutiny (consideration of the general principles).

Bill Summary (PDF 342KB)

Bilingual Glossary (PDF 153KB)

Correspondence

Letter from the Chair, Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee to Y Llywydd and Chair of Business Committee (PDF 86KB) - 11 July 2022

Letter from Y Llywydd and Chair of the Business Committee to the Chair, Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee (PDF 93KB) - 13 July 2022

Letter from the Chair, Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee to Y Llywydd and Chair of the Business Committee (PDF 88KB) - 23 September 2022

The Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee, the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, and the Finance Committee undertook consideration of the Bill outside of the Stage 1 scrutiny process to inform the debate on the general principles of the Bill.

The Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee published its report (PDF 291KB) on 10 October 2022. Further details of the Committee’s consideration of the Bill can be found here.

Committee dates

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
3 October 2022	Ministerial evidence session	Transcript	View meeting

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report (PDF 297 KB) on 11 October 2022. The Committee received a response (PDF, 117KB) from the Welsh Government on 25 October 2022.

Correspondence

Letter from the Minister for Climate Change to the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, 9 December 2022 (PDF 177KB)

Letter from the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to the Minister for Climate Change, 25 November 2022 (PDF 129KB)

The Finance Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
29 September 2022	Ministerial evidence session	Transcript	View meeting

The Finance Committee laid its report on 7 October 2022. The Committee received a response (PDF, 206KB) from the Welsh Government on 25 October 2022.

Correspondence

Letter from the Minister for Climate Change: Amendments to the Regulatory Impact Assessment - 31 May 2023 (PDF, 159KB)

Debate in Plenary on the general principles

A debate on the general principles of the Bill took place in Plenary on 11 October 2022. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.

On 11 October 2022, Business Committee agreed (PDF 45KB)to refer the Bill to the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee for Stage 2 proceedings, following agreement of the general principles by the Senedd.

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¬¬¬Bill introduced (20 September 2022)

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill, (PDF 227KB) as introduced

Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 1.5MB)

Presiding Officer’s Statement: 20 September 2022 (PDF 157KB)

Statement of policy intent (PDF 346 KB)

Business Committee’s Report on the timetable for consideration of the Bill (PDF 41KB)

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill: children's rights impact assessment (PDF 418KB)

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill: equality impact assessment (PDF 435KB)

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill: rural proofing impact assessment (PDF 94KB)

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill: Welsh language impact assessment (PDF 165KB)

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill: biodiversity impact assessment (PDF 119KB)