Banning of various single-use plastic (SUP) products: RPC Opinions (Green-rated)
Regulatory Policy Committee opinion on Defra's Banning of various single-use plastic (SUP) products IAs
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The proposed policy will introduce bans on the sale of the stated single-use products; single-use food and beverage containers made from expanded, or extruded, polystyrene; single-use plastic plates and cutlery; and single-use plastic balloon sticks in England.
The IAs identify a good range of impacts and provide an appropriate level of analysis to support the quantification of the impacts. The Department has considered the impacts upon small and micro businesses (SMBs), determining that their presence in affected sectors is too high to allow for any exemption. The rationale for intervention needs to be strengthened, particularly in light of the ongoing decline in the usage of single-use products covered within the assessments. The wider impacts should also be strengthened by considering the full implications of being reliant on imports to meet market demand in light of the bans. While the IAs discuss a broad programme to evaluate the impact of single-use plastic (SUP) bans and policy, it must provide more detail on how these specific bans will be evaluated.