Proposed changes to the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme are continuing their progress through Parliament, with the regulations up for debate in the House of Lords.
The amendments were formally laid before Parliament in early November and have already been scrutinised and approved by MPs in the House of Commons.
Commons Debate On pEPR Reforms
The draft regulations were debated in the House of Commons on 9 December 2025.
Introducing the debate, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Angela Eagle, described the amendments as “a significant milestone in our journey towards a more circular, resource-resilient economy”, emphasising the need for producers to take greater responsibility for the packaging they introduce to the market and for waste prevention to be embedded at the design stage.
Eagle told the House that the changes were focused on improving the practical delivery of the scheme, adding: “The amendments before us today are designed to improve the fairness, clarity and operational efficiency of the scheme.”
She added that the proposals were shaped by feedback from producers, local authorities and other stakeholders, and aligned with international best practice.
During the discussion, Eagle outlined three key areas of change: allowing for the appointment of a producer responsibility organisation (PRO), widening the scope of offsetting arrangements, and making a number of technical revisions intended to clarify and streamline the regulations.
Concerns About Double Charging
MPs also raised concerns about the broader implications of pEPR for food, drink and hospitality sectors, including the potential for double charging and the fee structure applied to heavier but highly recyclable materials such as glass and steel.
In response, Eagle said the Government intended to evolve the scheme over time, taking an “iterative” approach rather than dismantling and redesigning the system entirely.
The regulations were subsequently approved by the Committee, clearing the way for their consideration in the House of Lords.
The package of amendments introduces a range of operational and technical adjustments to the pEPR regime, which originally came into effect in January 2025.
Set to be implemented from January 2026, the changes address issues identified during the scheme’s first year, including material definitions, changes in company structures and the management of producer obligations.
View our previous story on this here: Government Tables Amendments to pEPR Regulations in Parliament [24.11.25]
