01Apr

BIS hands over WEEE & Batteries policy brief to Defra

Posted on 1st April, 2016

Responsibility for UK government policy around waste batteries, WEEE and end of life vehicles (ELV) and tyres will be handled by Defra, senior ministers have announced.

The WEEE, batteries and ELV briefs had previously been overseen by the Environmental Regulation team, a unit within the Department for Business (BIS), but from today the team has been moved to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

hopResponsibility for the policy development and monitoring of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electrical equipment, and for substance restrictions relating to packaging, will also be absorbed by Defra.

The six-person Environmental Regulations team will be moving from BIS’ headquarters near London’s Victoria Station to Defra’s Nobel House head office.

In a written statement, Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed the switch, writing: “This written ministerial statement confirms that responsibility for environmental regulatory functions will transfer from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This change will be effective from 1 April 2016.”

And, in a further statement, the government added: “With much of the legislation and related work split between the two departments, transferring the team and resource from BIS to Defra will enable, and ensure, greater coordination of government policy and the combined regulatory responsibilities.”