Environment (Wales) Act 2016

Suspension

17 (1) Where carrier bag regulations confer power on an administrator to impose a civil sanction in relation to a breach of the regulations, the Welsh Ministers may direct the administrator—

(a) where the power is power to impose a fixed monetary penalty, not to serve any further notice of intent referred to in paragraph 3(1)(a) in relation to a breach of that kind, and

(b) where the power is power to impose a discretionary requirement, not to serve any further notice of intent referred to in paragraph 5(1)(a) in relation to a breach of that kind.

(2) The Welsh Ministers may only give a direction under sub-paragraph (1) in relation to a breach of carrier bag regulations if they are satisfied that the administrator has failed on more than one occasion—

(a) to comply with any duty imposed on it under or by virtue of this Schedule in relation to a breach of that kind,

(b) to act in accordance with the guidance it has published in relation to a breach of that kind (in particular, the guidance published under paragraph 13), or

(c) to act in accordance with the principles referred to in paragraph 15 or with other principles of best practice in relation to the enforcement of a breach of that kind.

(3) The Welsh Ministers may by direction revoke a direction given by them under sub-paragraph (1) if they are satisfied that the administrator has taken the appropriate steps to remedy the failure to which that direction related.

(4) Before giving a direction under sub-paragraph (1) or (3), the Welsh Ministers must consult—

(a) the administrator, and

(b) such other persons as they consider appropriate.

(5) Where the Welsh Ministers give a direction under this paragraph, they must lay a copy of the direction before the National Assembly for Wales.

(6) The administrator must take steps to bring a direction under this paragraph to the attention of other persons likely to be affected by it; and must do so in such manner (if any) as the Welsh Ministers may require.