The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wet Wipes) (Wales) Regulations 2025

Welsh Statutory Instruments

2025 No. 716 (W. 124)

Environmental Protection, Wales

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wet Wipes) (Wales) Regulations 2025

Made

18 June 2025

Coming into force

18 December 2026

The Welsh Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Act 2023 (“the Act”)(1).

Before making these Regulations, the Welsh Ministers have complied with the consultation requirements in accordance with section 3(2) of the Act.

In considering whether to exercise the power in section 3 of the Act, the Welsh Ministers have complied with their duty under section 4(1) of the Act.

In accordance with section 21(3) of the Act, a draft of these Regulations has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, Senedd Cymru.

Title, coming into force and interpretation

1.—(1) The title of these Regulations is the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wet Wipes) (Wales) Regulations 2025.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 18 December 2026.

(3) In these Regulations, “the Act” (“y Ddeddf”) means the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Act 2023.

Amendment of paragraph 1 of the Schedule to the Act

2.—(1) The table in paragraph 1 of the Schedule (prohibited single-use plastic products) to the Act is amended as follows.

(2) Under the heading “other products”, after the entry for “cotton buds” insert—

“Wet wipes

Exemption 1 In respect of the supply, or offer to supply, of a wet wipe designed or manufactured for use in connection with medical care or treatment.”

Amendment of paragraph 2 of the Schedule to the Act

3.  At the appropriate places in paragraph 2 of the Schedule to the Act insert—

““medical” (“meddygol”) includes surgical;”;

““treatment” (“triniaeth”) includes diagnosis;”;

““wet wipe” (“weip wlyb”) means a non-woven piece of fabric which has been pre-wetted.”

Huw Irranca-Davies

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, one of the Welsh Ministers

18th June 2025

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Act 2023 (“the Act”). They are made under powers conferred by section 3(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Act.

Regulation 2 adds “wet wipes” to the list of prohibited single-use plastic products in column 1 of the table at paragraph 1 of the Schedule to the Act. This amendment makes a wet wipe that meets the definition of a single-use plastic product a prohibited single-use plastic product for the purposes of the Act.

Regulation 2 also provides for an exemption to the prohibition, by amending column 2 of the table at paragraph 1 of the Schedule to the Act. The exemption applies to single-use wet wipes that contain plastic that are designed or manufactured to be used in connection with medical care or treatment.

Regulation 3 adds the definitions of “wet wipe”, “medical” and “treatment” to paragraph 2 of the Schedule to the Act, for the purpose of the table at paragraph 1 of the Schedule.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations. A copy can be obtained from the Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.

(1)

2023 asc 2.