BIS environmental regulation team transfers to Defra

The team has responsibility for a range of waste mandates and policies, which will now be run from within Defra, including:

• Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
• End of Life Vehicles (ELVs)
• Waste batteries and accumulators
• Packaging (Essential Requirements)
• Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)

Greater coordination

In a statement from the government prior to the transfer, it stated that “with much of the legislation and related work split between the two departments, transferring the team and resource from BIS to Defra will enable, and ensure, greater coordination of government policy and the combined regulatory responsibilities”.

The change comes soon after cuts were made within BIS, which included the plan to close the department’s office in Sheffield by 2018, resulting in probable job losses, some of which could possibly affect the Environmental Regulations team.

Business as usual

These changes will have little to no impact on members and the step to move the six-person team at BIS into Defra will reinforce collaborative thinking between the two bodies and ensure any policy changes will reflect both the UK’s environmental and business requirements.

If you would like to discuss your compliance needs please contact our team of specialists on 0845 094 2228 or email info@ecosurety.com.