Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to establish transitional arrangements to allow businesses to sell through existing stock in the event that requirements pursuant to EU Regulation 2023/1542 on batteries are introduced; and what assessment she has made of a reasonable minimum sell-through period for manufacturers and retailers holding non-compliant inventory.

Defra is working with the Devolved Governments to review the UK’s producer responsibility legislation for batteries. As part of this review, my officials held a series of workshops with industry earlier this year to explore the impacts of regulatory consistency with the requirements of the EU Batteries Regulation in Great Britain. We intend to consult on proposals in the autumn and will use this consultation to assess transitional needs, including a reasonable minimum sell-through period for manufacturers and retailers.