Draft of the Circular Economy (Environmental Levy)(Plastic Bag)(No. 2) Regulations 2023

TRIS notification 2023/0560/IE — draft technical regulation notified under Directive (EU) 2015/1535 (not yet adopted)

Draft of the Circular Economy (Environmental Levy)(Plastic Bag)(No. 2) Regulations 2023

1. MSG 001 IND 2023 0560 IE EN 28-09-2023 IE NOTIF
2. Ireland
4. 2023/0560/IE - S10E - Packaging
5. Draft of the Circular Economy (Environmental Levy)(Plastic Bag)(No. 2) Regulations 2023
6. The draft regulations are related to a levy on plastic carrier bags, which are designed and intended to be supplied at point of sale in a supermarket, service station, or other retail outlet, other than those plastic bags exempted by the regulations.
7.
Directive (EC) N° 94/62 on packaging and packaging waste
To comply with the amendments brought to Directive 94/62/EC by Directive 2015/720/EU
8. These regulations transpose Directive (EU) 2015/720 on reducing the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags. These regulations will replace Ireland’s existing Plastic Bag Environmental Levy Regulations and will bring some changes to how Ireland applies exemptions to the charging of the levy based on definitions for classes of bags as outlined in Directive (EU) 2015/720.
9. In 2002, Ireland introduced an environmental levy on plastic bags, the primary purpose of which was to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic bags by influencing consumer behaviour. This has proven hugely successful and we have seen a huge reduction in the usage of plastic carrier bags in Ireland, from a peak of 133 million in a calendar year to just 8.3 million during 2022, because of the relatively modest charge placed on their use.
The following are the main amendments included in the draft amendment regulations:
•	Introduction of definitions for ‘plastic bag’, ‘lightweight plastic bag’ and ‘very lightweight plastic bag’, as per EU Directive 2015/720,
•	Basis of exemption from the levy for very lightweight bags, used for food hygiene or primary packaging of loose food to prevent food waste, will change from the size of the bag (225mm x 345mm x 450mm) to the wall thickness of the bag (less than 15 microns)
•	Basis of exemption from the levy for reusable plastic bags includes will change from a minimum price of 70c to the wall thickness of the bag (50 microns or higher).
The regulations are expected to come into effect from 1st January 2024.
10. References of the Basic Texts:
11. No
12.
13. No
14. Yes
15. No
16.
TBT aspects: No
SPS aspects: No