S.I. No. 326/2021 - European Union (Single Use Plastics) Regulations 2021

1. Sanitary towels (pads), tampons and tampon applicators;

2. Wet wipes, i.e., pre-wetted personal care and domestic wipes;

3. Tobacco products with filter and filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products;

4. Cups for beverages.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(

This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation

.)

These Regulations transpose Article 5 of Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic product on the environment and give further effect to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2151 of 17 December 2020. They restrict single use plastic products contained in Part 1 of the Annex and products made in whole or in part of oxo-degradable plastic from being placed on the market in Ireland from 3 July 2021. They also prohibit the placing on the market in Ireland, without specified markings, the products listed in Part 2 of the Annex. The Regulations give the Environmental Protection Agency the powers to enforce these provisions.

1

OJ L 155, 12.6.2019, p. 1–19

2

OJ L 428, 18.12.2020, p. 57–67

3

OJ C 216, 7.6.2021, p. 1–46

4

OJ L 428, 18.12.2020, p. 57–67

5 Council Directive 90/385/EEC of 20 June 1990 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to active implantable medical devices (OJ L 189, 20.07.1990, p.17)

6 Council Directive 93/42/EEC of 14 June 1993 concerning medical devices (OJ L 169, 12.7.1993, p. 1)

5. Beverage stirrers;

6. Sticks to be attached to and support balloons, except for balloons for industrial or other professional uses and applications that are not distributed to consumers, including the mechanisms for such sticks;

7. Food containers made of expanded polystyrene, i.e., receptacles such as boxes, with or without a cover, used to contain food which

(a) is intended for immediate consumption, either on-the-spot or take away,

(b) is typically consumed from the receptacle, and

(c) is ready to be consumed without any further preparation, such as cooking, boiling or heating,

including food containers used for fast food or other meal ready for immediate consumption, except beverage containers and packets and wrappers containing food;

8. Beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene;

9. Cups for beverages made of expanded polystyrene, including their covers and lids.

Part 2

Single-use plastic products required to comply with the rules on harmonised marking specifications set out in the EU Regulation

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of

6

th July,

2021.

I, EAMON RYAN, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by

section 3

of the

European Communities Act 1972

(No. 27 of 1972), and for the purpose of giving effect to Directive (EU) 2019/904/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastics on the environment

1

and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2151 of 17 December 2020 laying down rules on harmonised marking specifications on single-use plastic products listed in Part D of the Annex to Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment

2

hereby make the following Regulations: -

Part I

Preliminary and General

Citation