Overview

This bill aims to ban the manufacture and sale of wet wipes containing plastic in England. The Secretary of State is mandated to create and present regulations to Parliament to achieve this within 90 days of the bill passing.

Description

The Plastics (Wet Wipes) Bill seeks to prohibit the manufacture and sale of wet wipes containing plastic in England. The bill empowers the Secretary of State to draft and present regulations to Parliament within 90 days of its enactment. These regulations will utilize existing legal frameworks:

• Environmental Protection Act 1990, Section 140: This section allows the prohibition or restriction of substances or articles causing environmental pollution or harm to health.
• Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008, Section 62(2): This section enables the creation of offences related to breaches of subordinate legislation (like the proposed regulations).

The bill establishes criminal offenses for violating the ban. The bill's scope is limited to England and Wales and will come into effect immediately upon its passage.

Government Spending

The bill does not specify direct government spending figures. However, there may be costs associated with drafting and enforcing the regulations, as well as potential costs for supporting businesses in transitioning to plastic-free alternatives.

Groups Affected

• Wet wipe manufacturers: Will be significantly impacted, requiring changes to production processes and potentially leading to job losses if they cannot adapt.
• Retailers: Will need to remove plastic wet wipes from their shelves.
• Consumers: Will need to switch to plastic-free alternatives, which may affect cost and availability.
• Environmental groups: Likely to welcome the bill as a step towards reducing plastic pollution.

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