Sustainable procurement: the Government Buying Standards (GBS)
Page summary:
GBS product specifications: mandatory for central government departments and related organisations; encouraged for wider public sector.
Change made:
Added information about a stakeholder survey to help shape updates to the Government Buying Standards.
Time updated:
12:01am, 11 August 2025
Imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products: topical issues
Page summary:
Current issues relating to imports and exports of animals and animal products.
Change made:
Updated safeguarding restrictions for imports of bovine animal by-products (ABPs) from Italy, France and Japan due to lumpy skin disease (LSD) outbreaks. Following further assessment, restrictions on certain animal by-products of bovine origin have now been amended to exempt additional animal by-products from the restrictions and to allow alternative risk-mitigating treatment options for certain by-products.
Time updated:
4:51pm, 11 August 2025
UK businesses to benefit as online platforms pay their fair share to recycle electrical waste
Page summary:
Bill for recycling waste electricals to shift towards online marketplaces to create a level playing field for UK retailers
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
10:00am, 12 August 2025
WEEE: apply for approval as a producer compliance scheme
Page summary:
Apply to be a waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) producer compliance scheme and operate legally under your approval.
Change made:
Changes to the section on annual charges for schemes approved by the Environment Agency to remove charge set 1 details and replace with a link to Waste (Miscellaneous) (England) Charging Scheme 2018. Details relating to charging schemes for the 2019 compliance year has been removed as this is no longer relevant. Removed a link to guidance on submitting proposals for the PCS balancing system as this is now outdated. Added the requirement for an OMP to provide a breakdown of EEE from non-UK based suppliers and the requirement to provide a methodology annually to reflect the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment, etc.) Regulations 2025. Update made to one of the sanctions for non-compliance that prosecution under criminal law at a magistrates court is now an unlimited fine to reflect the 2015 law that removed the £5,000 cap that used to limit the maximum fines magistrates could impose. The contact name for the environmental regulator for England has been updated from Producer Responsibility Regulatory Services (PRRS) to WEEE Producer Responsibility.
Time updated:
11:48am, 12 August 2025
WEEE: collecting used and waste electrical and electronic equipment
Page summary:
Guidance for designated collection facilities (DCF) and charities on how to comply with waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and waste regulations.
Change made:
Updated the definition of ‘private household’ WEEE to remove outdated references to ‘nature and quantity’ testing. Removed section on ‘WEEE and the Controlled Waste Regulations’ due to outdated reference to ‘nature and quantity’. Removed link to ‘BSI guide on collecting, moving and treating household appliances such as fridges containing fluorocarbons or hydrocarbons’ as this has since been withdrawn.
Time updated:
11:48am, 12 August 2025
Regulations: Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
Page summary:
Guidance for manufacturers, importers and distributors (including retailers).
Change made:
Updated the extent of obligation to include operators of online marketplaces (OMPs) who place EEE on the UK market from non-UK based suppliers. Updated the type of business who can join the DTS to include solely online retailers and exclude vape retailers.
Time updated:
11:48am, 12 August 2025
Producer responsibility regulations
Page summary:
Producer responsibility laws in the UK cover packaging, electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), batteries and end of life vehicles (ELVs).
Change made:
This guidance has been updated to state that the guidance belongs to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs rather than the Department for Business and Trade. Added ‘Business to consumer (B2C) and business to business (B2B) EEE and WEEE: how to correctly identify’, ‘Report the amount of EEE you place on the market’ and ‘When electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) becomes waste (WEEE)’ to the WEEE collection.
Time updated:
11:49am, 12 August 2025
Non-UK suppliers’ data: tell us how you collected it for EEE placed on the UK market via online marketplaces
Page summary:
A guide to documenting how you’ve collected your non-UK suppliers’ household electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) data, known as your ‘methodology’. Online marketplaces as defined in the amended waste EEE regulations must submit a methodology.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
11:50am, 12 August 2025
Extended producer responsibility for packaging: generate a packaging data file
Page summary:
If you need to submit packaging data under extended producer responsibility for packaging, this spreadsheet can help you generate a valid packaging data file
Change made:
The packaging data tool for 2024 was withdrawn too early. It has been reinstated on this page alongside the tool for 2025 data submissions.
Time updated:
2:31pm, 12 August 2025
Organisation details: how to create your file for extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging
Page summary:
This guidance explains how to report organisation details in order to register for extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging. This is a legal obligation for organisations that are affected by EPR for packaging.
Change made:
This updates clarifies that a leaver code is mandatory when reporting ‘leavers’ in mid-year groups and subsidiary changes. Corrected ‘residual type code’, ‘turnover’ and ‘tonnage’ to show these are also mandatory.
Time updated:
2:38pm, 12 August 2025
Industry experts selected to join key pEPR advisory groups
Page summary:
PackUK is pleased to announce the members appointed to 3 of its key advisory groups.
Change made:
Added translation
Time updated:
12:25pm, 13 August 2025
Groupage export facilitation scheme: application
Page summary:
Apply to become a member of the groupage export facilitation scheme (GEFS).
Change made:
Update to the membership application form.
Time updated:
12:06pm, 14 August 2025
Bluetongue virus in Europe
Page summary:
Preliminary outbreak assessments, qualitative risk assessments and updated situation assessments for bluetongue virus in Europe.
Change made:
Added updated outbreak assessment for bluetongue virus in Europe.
Time updated:
9:23am, 15 August 2025
West Nile fever: how to spot and report the disease
Page summary:
How to spot West Nile fever, what to do if you suspect it and measures to prevent its spread.
Change made:
Added a link to a poster about how to spot and report West Nile fever.
Time updated:
10:27am, 15 August 2025
Avian influenza (bird flu) in Europe, Russia and the UK
Page summary:
Preliminary and updated outbreak assessments for avian influenza (bird flu) in Europe, Russia and the UK.
Change made:
Added an updated outbreak assessment for 11 August 2025: High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) in Great Britain and Europe.
Time updated:
10:42am, 15 August 2025
Businesses approved to export to the EU
Page summary:
Check if your business in Great Britain or one of the Crown Dependencies is approved to export to the EU and find out what your TRACES number is.
Change made:
Updated 5 ODS attachments of lists of businesses approved to export to the EU.
Time updated:
2:50pm, 15 August 2025
