The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) Order 2015

Article 2

SCHEDULE 1 E+W Sellers [F1 for the purposes of Schedule 3]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 1 heading inserted (21.5.2021) by The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/598), arts. 1(2), 8

Meaning E+W

1.  A seller means a person who sells goods and employs 250 or more employees on the first day of a reporting year.

Number of employees of a person E+W

2.—(1) For the purposes of this Schedule, the number of employees of a person is taken to be the number of that person's full-time equivalent employees.

(2) The number of full-time equivalent employees of a person is calculated as follows—

where TH is the total number of hours per week for which all the employees of the person are contracted to work.

Employees E+W

3.—(1) In this Schedule, “ employee” means an individual who has entered into or works under a contract of employment.

(2) In sub-paragraph (1), “contract of employment” means a contract of service, whether express or implied, and (if it is express) whether oral or in writing.

Article 2

SCHEDULE 2 E+W Single use carrier bags

Meaning E+W

1.  A SUCB means an unused bag made of lightweight plastic material with handles, other than an excluded bag.

Excluded bags E+W

2.—(1)  [F2 Subject to sub-paragraph (1A),] the following are excluded bags—

Name	Description
(a) Unwrapped food bag	A bag intended to be used solely to contain wholly or partly unwrapped food for human or animal consumption.
(b) Unwrapped loose seeds bag	A bag intended to be used solely to contain wholly or partly unwrapped loose seeds, bulbs, corns, rhizomes, flowers or goods contaminated by soil.
(c) Unwrapped blades bag	A bag intended to be used solely to contain wholly or partly unwrapped axes, knives, knife blades or razor blades.
(d) Prescription-only medicine bag	A bag intended to be used solely to contain a prescription-only medicine, a pharmacy medicine or a listed appliance sold in accordance with a prescription issued by a doctor, dentist, supplementary prescriber, nurse independent prescriber, independent nurse prescriber, optometrist independent prescriber, pharmacist independent prescriber or EEA health professional.
(e) Uncooked meat food bag	A bag intended to be used solely to contain uncooked fish or fish products, meat or meat products or poultry or poultry products.
(f) Live aquatic creatures bag	A bag intended to be used solely to contain live aquatic creatures in water.
(g) Returnable multiple reuse bag	A bag which is sold for an amount not less than the minimum amount specified in article 3 and which— (i) is intended to be returnable to the seller from whom it was purchased to be replaced free of charge; (ii) is made from material the thickness of which is not less than 50 microns but not greater than 70 microns; and (iii) disregarding the width of any gussets, or the height of any handles extending above the main body of the bag— (aa) has a width and height greater (in each case) than 404 mm; and (bb) has a width or height greater (in either case) than 439 mm.
(h) Woven plastic bag	A bag the material of which is made by interlacing long threads passing in one direction with others at a right angle to them.
(i) Transit goods bag	A bag which is intended to be used to carry goods in a transit place.
[F3 (j) Online grocery delivery bag	A bag intended to be used solely to carry goods purchased for home delivery as part of an online grocery delivery service.]
[F4 (k) Sealed transit bag	A bag which is intended to be used to carry alcohol or tobacco purchased in an area designated by the Secretary of State as a security restricted area under section 11A of the Aviation Security Act 1982 and which is sealed after the item is placed in it.]

[F5 (1A) Online grocery delivery bags are excluded bags from 21st March to 21st September 2020 only.]

(2) For the purposes of determining whether a bag falls within the description in paragraph 2(1)(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e), the fact that the bag may be intended to be used to contain items referred to in the description relating to any other of those bags is to be disregarded.

(3) In sub-paragraph (1)—

“dentist” means a person registered in the dentists register kept under section 14 of the Dentists Act 1984 M1 ;

“doctor”, “nurse independent prescriber”, “optometrist independent prescriber”, “pharmacist independent prescriber” and “supplementary prescriber” have the meaning given in regulation 8(1) of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 M2 ;

“EEA health professional” has the meaning given in regulation 213(1) of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012;

“independent nurse prescriber” has the meaning given in regulation 2(1) of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013 M3 ;

“listed appliance” means a listed appliance within the meaning of—

(a)

section 80 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 M4 ;

(b)

Article 63 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 M5 ;

(c)

section 27 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 M6 ; or

(d)

section 126 of the National Health Service Act 2006 M7 ;

“pharmacy medicine” and “prescription-only medicine” have the meaning given in regulation 5(3) and (5) of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012;

“transit place” means on board a ship, train, aircraft, coach or bus, F6 ....

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in Sch. 2 para. 2(1) inserted (21.3.2020) by The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/324), art. 3(a)(i), reg. 1(2)

F3 Sch. 2 para. 2(1)(j) inserted (21.3.2020) by The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/324), art. 3(b), reg. 1(2)

F4 Sch. 2 para. 2(1)(k) inserted (21.5.2021) by The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/598), arts. 1(2), 9(a)

F5 Sch. 2 para. 2(1A) inserted (21.3.2020) by The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/324), art. 3(c), reg. 1(2)

F6 Words in Sch. 2 para. 2(3) omitted (21.5.2021) by virtue of The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/598), arts. 1(2), 9(b)

Marginal Citations

M1 1984 c. 24, amended by S.I. 2005/2011, articles 2(1) and 6,

2007/3101, regulations 109 and 111; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.

M2 S.I. 2012/1916, amended by S.I. 2014/490, regulations 2 and 4(a)(iii); there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.

M3 S.I. 2013/349, to which there are amendments not relevant to this Order.

M4 2006 c.42, to which there are amendments not relevant to this Order.

M5 S.I. 1972/1265 (N.I. 14), amended by S.I. 1978/1907 (N.I. 26); there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.

M6 1978 c. 29, to which there are amendments not relevant to this Order.

M7 2006 c.41, to which there are amendments not relevant to this Order.

Article 4

SCHEDULE 3 E+W Records

Record-keeping E+W

1.—(1) A seller must keep a record in relation to a reporting year if required to charge in that year in accordance with article 3.

(2) The record must include the following information—

(a) the number of SUCBs supplied by the seller during the reporting year;

(b) in relation to those bags—

(i) the gross proceeds of the charge;

(ii) the amount of any VAT received by way of the gross proceeds of the charge;

(iii) the amount of any reasonable costs;

(iv) the apportionment between any different kinds of reasonable costs;

(v) the net proceeds of the charge;

(vi) the uses to which the net proceeds of the charge have been put.

(3) The seller must keep the record for a period of three years beginning with 31st May in the reporting year following that to which the record relates.

(4) The amounts specified for the purposes of the definition of “net proceeds of the charge” in paragraph 7(4) of Schedule 6 to the Climate Change Act 2008 are—

(a) the amount of any VAT received by way of the gross proceeds of the charge; and

(b) the amount of any reasonable costs.

F7 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) In this paragraph, “reasonable costs” means costs reasonably incurred completing transactions, communicating information, obtaining expert advice or carrying on similar activities to enable the seller to comply with this Order.

Textual Amendments

F7 Sch. 3 para. 1(5) omitted (21.5.2021) by virtue of The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/598), arts. 1(2), 10(a)

Supply of records E+W

2.—(1) The seller must supply a copy of the record to the Secretary of State.

(2) The record must be supplied—

(a) on or before 31st May in the reporting year following that to which the record relates;

(b) in an electronic or other format reasonably required by the Secretary of State for the purposes of publishing the records or producing statistics.

(3) If a person writes to the seller asking them to supply the record during the retention period, the seller must provide a copy of that record to the person who requested it within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the written request is received.

F8 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) In sub-paragraph (3), “the retention period” means the three-year period for which the record must be retained in accordance with paragraph 1(3) F9 ....

Textual Amendments

F8 Sch. 3 para. 2(4) omitted (21.5.2021) by virtue of The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/598), arts. 1(2), 10(b)(i)

F9 Words in Sch. 3 para. 2(5) omitted (21.5.2021) by virtue of The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/598), arts. 1(2), 10(b)(ii)

Meaning of reporting year E+W

3.  For the purposes of this Schedule, each of the following is a “reporting year”—

(a) the period beginning with 5th October 2015 and ending with 6th April 2016;

(b) each period of 12 months beginning with F10 ... 7th April 2016;

F11 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F10 Word in Sch. 3 para. 3(b) omitted (21.5.2021) by virtue of The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/598), arts. 1(2), 10(c)(i)

F11 Sch. 3 para. 3(c) omitted (21.5.2021) by virtue of The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/598), arts. 1(2), 10(c)(ii)

Article 8

SCHEDULE 4 E+W Reporting and guidance

Publication of records E+W

1.—(1) The Secretary of State must publish every record supplied to the Secretary of State in accordance with paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 on or before 31st July in the reporting year following that to which the record relates.

(2) The record must be published by way of a notice displayed in a prominent position on a website.

(3) The record must remain published for a period of one year beginning with the day after the date of its publication in accordance with sub-paragraph (1).

F12 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F12 Sch. 4 para. 1(4) omitted (21.5.2021) by virtue of The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/598), arts. 1(2), 11(a)

Publication of report about enforcement action E+W

2.—(1) An administrator must publish a report for the period—

(a) beginning with 5th October 2015 and ending with 4th October 2017;

(b) beginning with 5th October 2017 and ending with 4th October 2020; and

(c) beginning with 5th October 2020 and ending with 4th October [F13 2023].

[F14 (1A) Beginning with 5th October 2023, an administrator must publish a report for each consecutive three-year period (“the reporting period”).]

(2) The report must be published, in relation to the period beginning with—

(a) 5th October 2015, on or before 31st May 2018;

(b) 5th October 2017, on or before 31st May 2021;

(c) 5th October 2020, on or before 31st May [F15 2024].

[F16 (2A) In relation to each report referred to in sub-paragraph (1A), the report must be published on or before 31st May in the third year of the reporting period for the report.]

(3) The report must be—

(a) published in a prominent position on the administrator's website; and

(b) available for inspection at the administrator's office.

(4) The report must specify—

(a) the cases in which a civil sanction has been imposed;

(b) where the civil sanction is a fixed monetary penalty, the cases in which liability to the penalty has been discharged pursuant to paragraph 3 of Schedule 5.

(5) The report must remain published, and be available for inspection at the administrator's office, for a period of three years beginning with the day after the date of its publication in accordance with sub-paragraph (2).

(6) In sub-paragraph (4)(a), the reference to the imposition of a civil sanction does not include cases where a civil sanction was imposed but overturned on appeal.

(7) An administrator must not publish a report where the Secretary of State notifies the administrator in writing not to do so.

Textual Amendments

F13 Word in Sch. 4 para. 2(1)(c) substituted (21.5.2021) by The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/598), arts. 1(2), 11(b)(i)

F14 Sch. 4 para. 2(1A) inserted (21.5.2021) by The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/598), arts. 1(2), 11(b)(ii)

F15 Word in Sch. 4 para. 2(2)(c) substituted (21.5.2021) by The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/598), arts. 1(2), 11(b)(iii)

F16 Sch. 4 para. 2(2A) inserted (21.5.2021) by The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/598), arts. 1(2), 11(b)(iv)

Guidance as to use of civil sanctions E+W

3.—(1) An administrator must publish guidance about its use of civil sanctions under this Order.

(2) The guidance must contain—

(a) in relation to a fixed monetary penalty, information as to—

(i) the circumstances in which the penalty is likely to be imposed;

(ii) the circumstances in which the penalty may not be imposed;

(iii) the amount of the penalty;

(iv) how liability for the penalty may be discharged and the effect of discharge;

(v) the right to make representations and objections;

(vi) the right of appeal;

(b) in relation to a discretionary requirement, information as to—

(i) the circumstances in which the requirement is likely to be imposed;

(ii) the circumstances in which the requirement may not be imposed;

(iii) in the case of a variable monetary penalty, the matters likely to be taken into account by the administrator in determining the amount of the penalty (including, where relevant, any discounts for voluntary reporting of non-compliance);

(iv) the right to make representations and objections;

(v) the right of appeal.

(3) An administrator must revise the guidance where appropriate.

(4) An administrator must publish revised guidance within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the guidance is revised.

(5) Before publishing any guidance or revised guidance, an administrator must consult the Secretary of State and the British Retail Consortium.

(6) An administrator must have regard to the guidance or revised guidance in exercising its functions under this Order.

Article 9(2)

SCHEDULE 5 E+W Fixed monetary penalties: amounts and procedure

PART 1 E+W Fixed monetary penalties: amounts

1.  The amount of penalty which may be imposed as a fixed monetary penalty in any case is as follows— E+W

Breach	Amount
Fails to comply with the requirement to charge in accordance with article 3	£200
Fails to keep records in accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 3	£100
Fails to supply records in accordance with paragraph 2 of Schedule 3	£100

PART 2 E+W Fixed monetary penalties: procedure

Notice of intent E+W

2.—(1) An administrator who proposes to impose a fixed monetary penalty on a seller must serve a notice of intent on that seller.

(2) But an administrator may not serve a notice of intent on a seller in relation to a breach where a discretionary requirement has been imposed on the seller in relation to the same breach.

(3) A notice of intent must—

(a) state the amount of the penalty;

(b) offer the seller the opportunity to discharge its liability by paying the amount specified in paragraph 3 within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the notice was received;

(c) include information as to—

(i) the grounds for the proposal to impose the penalty;

(ii) the right to make representations and objections;

(iii) the 28-day period within which representations and objections may be made;

(iv) the circumstances in which the administrator may not impose the penalty;

(v) methods of payment.

Discharge of liability following notice of intent E+W

3.—(1) A seller's liability to a fixed monetary penalty is discharged by paying the specified sum within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the notice of intent to which it relates is received.

(2) The specified sum is—

Breach	Sum
Fails to comply with the requirement to charge in accordance with article 3	£100
Otherwise	£50

Making representations and objections E+W

4.—(1) This paragraph applies if a seller does not discharge its liability to a fixed monetary penalty by payment of the amount specified in paragraph 3(1).

(2) Within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the notice of intent is received, the seller may make written representations and objections to the administrator in relation to the proposed imposition of the penalty.

Decision whether to impose a fixed monetary penalty E+W

5.—(1) After the end of the 28-day period for making representations and objections under paragraph 4(2), the administrator must decide whether to impose the fixed monetary penalty.

(2) The administrator must take into consideration any representations or objections made by the seller under paragraph 4(2).

(3) An administrator may not impose the penalty if the administrator discovers that its proposal to impose the penalty was based on an error of fact, wrong in law or unreasonable.

(4) Where an administrator decides to impose the penalty it must do so by serving the final notice on the seller.

Contents of final notice E+W

6.  The final notice must include information as to—

(a) the grounds for imposing the fixed monetary penalty;

(b) the administrator's response to any representation and objections made by the seller;

(c) the amount of the penalty;

(d) methods of payment;

(e) the period of 56 days within which payment must be made;

(f) the right to, and effect of, early payment under paragraph 8;

(g) the right of appeal;

(h) the consequences of non-payment, including the imposition of a late payment penalty in accordance with paragraph 9.

Payment E+W

7.—(1) A fixed monetary penalty must be paid by a seller within the period of 56 days beginning with the day on which the final notice imposing it is received.

(2) If a decision to impose a penalty is upheld on appeal, the seller must pay the penalty within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the appeal is determined.

Early payment discount E+W

8.  A seller may discharge its liability to a fixed monetary penalty by paying 50% of the amount of the penalty within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the final notice imposing it is received.

Late payment penalty E+W

9.  If a fixed monetary penalty is not paid within the period specified in paragraph 7(1) or (if applicable) (2), the amount of the penalty is increased by 50%.

Article 10(3)

SCHEDULE 6 E+W Discretionary requirements: amounts and procedure

PART 1 E+W Variable monetary penalties: maximum amounts

1.  The maximum amount of variable monetary penalty which may be imposed in any case is as follows— E+W

Breach	Maximum amount
Fails to comply with the requirement to charge in accordance with article 3	£5,000
Fails to keep records in accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 3	£5,000
Fails to supply records in accordance with paragraph 2 of Schedule 3	£5,000
Gives false or misleading information to, or otherwise obstructs or fails to assist, an administrator	£20,000

PART 2 E+W Discretionary requirements: procedure

Notice of intent E+W

2.—(1) Where an administrator proposes to impose a discretionary requirement on a seller, the administrator must serve a notice of intent on that seller.

(2) But an administrator may not serve a notice of intent on a seller in relation to a breach where—

(a) a fixed monetary penalty has been imposed on the seller in relation to the same breach; or

(b) the seller has discharged liability to a fixed monetary penalty in relation that breach pursuant to paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 5.

(3) The notice of intent must—

(a) if the administrator proposes to impose a non-monetary discretionary requirement—

(i) specify the steps that the administrator proposes the seller be required to take;

(ii) specify the time period within which the administrator proposes that those steps are to be taken;

(b) if the administrator proposes to impose a variable monetary penalty, specify the amount of penalty proposed;

(c) include information as to—

(i) the grounds for the proposal to impose the discretionary requirement;

(ii) the right to make representations and objections;

(iii) the 28-day period within which representations and objections may be made;

(iv) the circumstances in which the administrator may not impose the discretionary requirements;

(v) in the case of a variable monetary penalty, methods of payment.

Making representations and objections E+W

3.  Within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the notice of intent is received, the seller may make written representations and objections to the administrator in relation to the proposed imposition of the discretionary requirement.

Decision whether to impose discretionary requirements E+W

4.—(1) After the end of the 28-day period for making representations and objections under paragraph 3, the administrator must decide whether to impose—

(a) the discretionary requirement with or without modifications; or

(b) any other discretionary requirement that the administrator has power to impose under this Schedule.

(2) The administrator must take into consideration any representations or objections made by the seller under paragraph 3.

(3) An administrator may not impose a discretionary requirement if the administrator discovers that its proposal to impose the requirement was—

(a) based on an error of fact;

(b) wrong in law;

(c) in relation to the amount of any variable monetary penalty, unreasonable;

(d) in relation to the nature of any non-monetary discretionary requirement, unreasonable;

(e) unreasonable for any other reason.

(4) An administrator may not impose a fixed monetary penalty in place of a discretionary requirement.

(5) Where an administrator decides to impose a discretionary requirement it must do so by serving the final notice on the seller.

Contents of a final notice E+W

5.  The final notice must include information as to—

(a) the grounds for imposing the discretionary requirement;

(b) the administrator's response to any representation and objections made by the seller, including any effect on the amount of any variable monetary penalty imposed;

(c) where the discretionary requirement is a non-monetary discretionary requirement—

(i) the steps the seller is required to take;

(ii) the period within which those steps must be taken;

(d) where the discretionary requirement is a variable monetary penalty—

(i) the amount of the penalty;

(ii) methods of payment;

(iii) the period within which payment must be made;

(iv) the right to, and effect of, early payment under paragraph 7;

(e) the right of appeal;

(f) the consequences of failing to comply with the notice, including the imposition of a late payment penalty in accordance with paragraph 8.

Payment E+W

6.—(1) A variable monetary penalty must be paid by a seller within the period of 56 days beginning with the day on which the final notice imposing it is received.

(2) To the extent that a decision to impose a penalty is upheld on appeal, the seller must pay the penalty within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the appeal is determined.

Early payment discount E+W

7.  A seller may discharge its liability to a variable monetary penalty by paying 50% of the amount of the penalty within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the final notice imposing it is received.

Late payment penalty E+W

8.  If a variable monetary penalty is not paid within the period specified in paragraph 6(1) or (if applicable) (2), the amount of the penalty is increased by 50%.

Article 11(4)

SCHEDULE 7 E+W Non-compliance penalties: procedure

Notice of intent E+W

1.—(1) Where an administrator proposes to impose a non-compliance penalty on a seller, the administrator must serve a notice of intent on that seller.

(2) The notice of intent must include information as to—

(a) the grounds for the proposal to impose the penalty;

(b) the amount of the penalty proposed;

(c) methods of payment;

(d) the date by which payment would be due;

(e) the consequences of failure to make payment by the due date;

(f) the right to make representations and objections;

(g) the 28-day period within which representations and objections may be made;

(h) the circumstances (if any) in which the administrator may reduce the amount of the penalty proposed.

Making representations and objections E+W

2.  Within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the notice of intent is received, the seller may make written representations and objections to the administrator in relation to the proposed imposition of a non-compliance penalty.

Decision whether to impose a non-compliance penalty E+W

3.—(1) After the end of the 28-day period for making representations and objections under paragraph 2, the administrator must decide whether to impose the non-compliance penalty with or without modifications.

(2) An administrator may decide not to impose a non-compliance penalty if the administrator considers that in all the circumstances of the case it would be inexpedient to do so.

(3) The administrator must take into consideration any representations or objections made by the seller under paragraph 2.

(4) Where an administrator decides to impose a non-compliance penalty it must do so by serving a notice (a “non-compliance penalty notice”) on the seller.

Contents of a non-compliance penalty notice E+W

4.—(1) A non-compliance penalty notice must include information as to—

(a) the grounds for imposing the non-compliance penalty;

(b) the administrator's response to any representations and objections made by the seller, including any effect on the amount of the penalty imposed;

(c) the amount of the penalty;

(d) methods of payment;

(e) the date by which payment must be made;

(f) the right of appeal;

(g) the consequences of failure to make payment by the due date.

(2) A non-compliance penalty must be paid by a seller within the period of 56 days beginning with the date on which the notice imposing it was received.

(3) If the requirements of the non-monetary discretionary requirement are complied with before the 56-day period expires, the liability to pay the non-compliance penalty is discharged.

(4) If a non-compliance penalty notice is the subject of an appeal, then to the extent that the notice is upheld, the penalty must be paid by the seller within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the appeal is determined.

Late payment penalty E+W

5.  If a fixed monetary penalty is not paid within the period specified in paragraph 4(2) or (if applicable) (4) the amount of the penalty is increased by 50%.