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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the forthcoming amendment to the pEPR statutory instrument on businesses.

Defra is assessing the potential impact of forthcoming amendments to the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) regulations.

The amendments are intended to improve the operation of the scheme, including by clarifying aspects of producer obligations, and strengthening transparency and oversight in the Packaging Waste Recycling Note and Packaging Waste Export Recycling Note systems.

The Government will set out the relevant assessment when the regulations are brought forward. The Department will also continue to monitor implementation and outcomes through the wider Collection and Packaging Reforms evaluation programme.