MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet
Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: I am pleased to
confirm that I will be laying the Environmental Protection
(Single-use Plastic Products) (Wet Wipes) (Wales) Regulations
2025 to prohibit the supply (including for free) and offer to
supply, of single-use wet wipes containing plastic in Wales,
later this year.
These Regulations will be another crucial step in reducing
pollution from plastic and microplastics which plague our
environment. This is a positive step in protecting our
communities, wildlife and ecosystems for future generations to
enjoy.
Since my last Written Statement on 22 April 2024, we have
continued working closely with all UK Governments in developing
the wet wipes policy on a four-nation basis and in the context of
our groundbreaking Welsh legislation - the Environmental
Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Act 2023. For
these reasons, these Regulations will contain some minor changes
to the position set out in my previous statement:
- A specific exemption for industrial use is
not required in Wales, as the offences of
‘supply' or ‘offer to supply' only
apply to ‘consumers', who are defined as
‘individual(s) acting for purposes that are wholly or mainly
outside that individual's trade, business or profession'
- The anticipated exemption to allow
pharmacies to continue supplying wet wipes with plastic
content has been simplified to allow the continued supply of
plastic containing wet wipes in any setting if they are
‘designed or manufactured for use in connection with medical
care or treatment'
- The definition of wet wipe has also
been simplified, and our intention is to define this as ‘a
non-woven piece of fabric which has been pre-wetted'
These changes have not impacted our intended outcome of
restricting the availability of wet wipes with plastic content
nor have they restricted availability where alternatives are
either unsuitable or unavailable. The policy continues to align
with those agreed by all UK nations.
To accommodate these changes and ensure compliance with
obligations under the World Trade Organisation, we anticipate,
subject to the will of the Senedd, a coming into force date in
Wales in December 2026.
We expect this timetable to be broadly in line with the other UK
nations and believe any small difference in timing arising
throughout the UK is manageable for manufacturers and
retailers.
