"We have considered the feedback we received to the consultation and through engagement which showed a clear concern over the introduction of EPR in 2023. Many stakeholders told us that the proposals for Phase 1 gave insufficient time for businesses to prepare for new data reporting requirements and insufficient time for the Scheme Administrator to mobilise. We also recognise the difficulties businesses have faced and continue to face due to the pandemic. The risk of the Scheme Administrator not being operational in time would have widespread implications for producers and local authorities, and a lack of or incorrect data underpinning the approach could jeopardise the scheme so it is essential that EPR is introduced in a way that is manageable for all those involved. The Government Response will set out the timeline for EPR implementation and next steps.
This means that the current producer responsibility system will continue to operate in 2023, and we will bring forward an SI later this year to introduce recycling targets for 2023."
"We are being asked about when the Government Response is likely to be published. Whilst we can’t give you a publication date, it is going through the final approval stage and we are working hard to get it finalised and to publish it as soon as we can.
Ahead of the publication of the full Government Response, we wanted to inform you of our decision not to phase in the introduction of EPR from 2023. We have considered the feedback we received to the consultation and through engagement which showed a clear concern over the introduction of EPR in 2023. Many stakeholders told us that the proposals for Phase 1 gave insufficient time for businesses to prepare for new data reporting requirements and insufficient time for the Scheme Administrator to mobilise. We also recognise the difficulties businesses have faced and continue to face due to the pandemic. The risk of the Scheme Administrator not being operational in time would have widespread implications for producers and local authorities, and a lack of or incorrect data underpinning the approach could jeopardise the scheme so it is essential that EPR is introduced in a way that is manageable for all those involved. The Government Response will set out the timeline for EPR implementation and next steps.
This means that the current producer responsibility system will continue to operate in 2023, and we will bring forward an SI later this year to introduce recycling targets for 2023.
Once we have confirmation of the publication date we will arrange a meeting of the PCWG to brief you on our final proposals.
Work is also continuing on preparing the responses to the DRS and consistency consultations, but as for EPR we are not in a position to give you a likely publication date."