Food and drink industry - legislation overview
With a gross output of £65.7bn, the food and drink industry is one of the largest industry sectors in the UK and accounts for 17% of the UK's manufacturing GNP. The industry's resource use and associated waste streams mean it has a significant environmental impact which legislation seeks to control and reduce.
Below is an overview of some of the most important legislation which directly affects the food and drink sector.
- Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC)Regulations
IPPC is the most significant piece of legislation to affect the food and drink sector in recent years, due to the wide scope and range of operations that are affected by it. More on IPPC...
- The Animal By-Products Regulations (ABPRs)
The ABPRs apply controls on the use, treatment, handling and disposal of animal by-products (ABPs) and enforce the Animal By-Products Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002. The ABPRs require the approval of any premises that handle ABPs. They aim to control the risks, including disease, to both animals and the public and affect the disposal of food waste. See DEFRA pages on ABPRs.
- Packaging Regulations
The packaging regulations apply to companies or groups which handle more than 50 tonnes of packaging and have a turnover of £2million per year. The obligation can be discharged through a compliance scheme or directly with the Environment Agency. Who is obligated?
- Hazardous Waste Regulations (HWR)
The HWR can affect businesses that produce, handle, store, treat or dispose of substances classified as 'hazardous waste'. With the addition of 180 substances to the 'hazardous waste' classification, the HWR can increase the costs associated with your waste treatment and disposal.
- Trade Effluent and Discharge Consents
Businesses discharging any thing other than domestic sewage or clean rainwater to sewer need to have a Trade Effluent agreement with their sewerage undertaker. This applies to food disposal units operated by hotels and restaurants. If the discharge is going to controlled waters (ditches, streams, rivers, lakes, or drains connecting to them) then a Discharge Consent is required.
- Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations (WEEE)
The WEEE regulations will affect business users of electrical and electronic equipment when they come into effect, as currently planned, on 1st April 2007. Either the end user or the producer of the equipment will be responsible for the costs of collection, recycling, recovery and responsible disposal of WEEE, depending on when it was purchased and whether it is being replaced with equivalent equipment. How the regulations will affect business users of WEEE.
- Climate Change Levy (CCL)
The CCL is a levy on some types of energy used by businesses, such as gas and electricity. Many companies in the food and drink industry are part of Climate Change Agreements which can rebate up to 80% of the levy. From April 2007,the levy will start increasing in line with inflation, providing an added incentive to consider measures to reduce energy use. For help and advice on reducing your energy bill and carbon emissions, please visit the Carbon Trust website.
- Other resources
