The Regulation introduces restrictions on the processing, transportation and disposal of wastes that contain meat and bans many food products from disposal in landfill for the first time. This will push up the cost of waste treatment for many retailers and food manufacturers.
Although the Regulation officially came into force across Europe on May 1 2003, the UK government has not yet passed the Statutory Instrument that will govern how it is enforced. Until the government passes enforcing legislation, the Regulation will not be practically applicable.
Delayed
DEFRA originally estimated the Statutory Instrument for the Regulation in England and Wales would be in place by May 31. But at the end of May, the department said: “The timing has now been delayed and we expect the enforcing legislation to come into force on July 1, 2003”.
A spokeswoman for DEFRA blamed the delay on last-minute changes made by the European Commission in order to give some UK sectors longer to comply with the Regulation
(see letsrecycle.com story). “To reflect the late changes we have had to rewrite the SI,” she said. The SI is expected to be put to the House of Commons next week.
Meat
DEFRA secured several transitional agreements from Europe to delay the impact of the Regulation until December 31, 2005 for several sectors which would find it hard to comply immediately. For example, food manufacturers and retailers dealing with cooked meat from that has not been prepared on the premises will be able to continue landfilling their food waste while preparing to comply.
Food waste can continue to go to landfill under the Regulation if it has been prepared on a shop or restaurant premises for immediate consumption.
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