Single Use Carrier Bag Charge changes in England no longer coming into force as expected
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The 
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has just confirmed that the amendments to the Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) Order 2015 will not be coming into force on 30th April 2021 as originally expected and communicated by Government.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has just confirmed that the amendments to the Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) Order 2015 will not be coming into force on 30th April 2021 as originally expected and communicated by Government.
Whilst the legislation has now passed in Parliament, the pre-election period has placed delays on the legislation coming into effect and clarity on the new timeline is expected imminently from Defra.
The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 will make the following changes:
- The minimum amount that sellers must charge for a single use carrier bag (SUCB) will increase from 5 pence to 10 pence.
- The obligation to charge for SUCB will be extended to all retailers and the exemption for airport retailers from charging for SUCB will be removed.
- The current "sunset clause" will be removed.
- Provisions relating to the review of the 2015 Order and excluded bags will be updated.
Reporting requirements on the number of SUCB sold annually will not be extended to micro, small and medium sized enterprises (those with less than 250 employees), in order to minimise additional burdens.
