Internal Market Act 2020

The Act established a market regime for the UK which introduces market access principles for goods in the UK, including the mutual recognition principle for goods. The mutual recognition principle for goods provides that goods which have been produced or imported into one part of the UK, and which can be sold or supplied there without contravening any relevant requirement, can be sold in any other part of the UK, free from any relevant requirements which would otherwise apply. The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) will require to be read in light of the application of the Internal Market Act.  

Therefore, from 1 June when the ban was first introduced in Scotland, the prohibition of supply of the listed single-use plastic products in the Regulations does not apply to any products which are produced or first imported into another part of the UK, and which can be lawfully supplied in that part of the UK.  

The Environmental Protection (Plastic Straws, Cotton Buds and Stirrers) (England) Regulations 2020 prohibit the supply in the course of a business of single-use plastic straws (with exemptions) and plastic drink stirrers in England, which would need to be taken into account in determining which products may be supplied in England. 

An agreement has been reached with the UK Government, to bring into force an exclusion from the effects of the Internal Market Act for the Regulations, from 12 August 2022, making the ban fully effective from this date. 

From 12 August 2022,  the prohibition of the supply of the listed single-use plastic products in the Regulations will apply to all products, regardless of where they originate from and whether they can be supplied in another part of the UK.