Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department provides to businesses managing dual compliance requirements.

Defra is working closely with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Office for Product Safety and Standards to develop new guidance relating to compliance with the EU Batteries Regulation in Northern Ireland. Webpages are kept up to date with the latest available guidance and information.

Defra is working with the Devolved Governments to review the UK’s producer responsibility legislation for batteries. As part of this review, my officials held a series of workshops with industry earlier this year to explore the impacts of regulatory alignment with the requirements of the EU Batteries Regulation in Great Britain and will formally consult on proposals in due course. The EU Batteries Regulation applies directly in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.