Minister concedes flaws in packaging regulations
A considerable amount of today’s Commons debate on supermarkets was spent discussing excess packaging. Jo Swinson made a telling contribution, pressing the Minister Joan Ruddock on the flaws in the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003. These regulations govern what constitutes acceptable levels of packaging, but Trading Standards officers have described them as “difficult to enforce” and having “little real impact” on reducing packaging.
The Minister made some important concessions in her response to Jo Swinson’s speech, stating: “The hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire (Jo Swinson) raised questions about the packaging regulations. We agree with her. The essential requirements do not work. We have asked for a review, but progress is slow.”
Jo Swinson was due to meet Joan Ruddock today to discuss these issues, but as a result of the debate in Parliament, ended up questioning her across the floor of the House instead. That meeting has been rescheduled and will take place in 2-3 weeks.