Welsh ban on single-use carrier bags shelved

A plan to ban single-use plastic bags and polystyrene takeaway tubs in Wales this year has been shelved.

The Welsh government wanted to extend existing rules on plastics in the spring, but it says it is not "viable" to get permission from the UK government in time.

The Welsh government says it is still committed to the ban, but has not given a date.

Rules banning single use plastic plates, cutlery, drinks stirrers, balloon sticks and other items are already in force.

A law brought in during Boris Johnson's premiership means that the Welsh government needs ministers in Westminster to agree before banning products.

Known as the UK Internal Market Act (UKIMA), the law means that goods that can be sold in one nation of the UK should be able to be sold in another, even if a law passed by the Welsh Parliament bans that from happening.

Devolved governments can ask for an "exclusion" to be granted, which can extend to other areas of the UK, and most of Wales' single-use plastic ban is in force because of permission that was granted to the Scottish government in 2022.

The Welsh government's plastics law, passed by the Senedd in 2022, went further than other parts of the UK.

It includes single-use plastic bags, polystyrene lids for take-away cups and fast-food containers, and products made of oxo-degradable plastic.

But the three items were not included in the list of exclusions.

UKIMA remains in force under Sir Keir Starmer's UK government, and was at the centre of a row between Welsh and Westminster Labour at the end of last year over funding for town centre improvements.

Four years ago the Welsh government had insisted that its plastics ban was "fully enforceable" and that the UKIMA "cannot and does not cut across" the powers of the Senedd.

But in an announcement on Wednesday afternoon the Welsh government referred to the same law as the reason why it could not proceed.

A press release from Rural Affairs Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said the UK government has committed to using a process called common frameworks as "the key mechanism to agree policy cooperation and manage divergence".

"We are committed to working collaboratively via the common framework processes to agree the necessary UKIMA exclusion for this legislation.

"This means it is no longer viable to agree and enact an exclusion under UKIMA in time to implement the remaining 'Phase 2 bans' this Senedd term."

He said the Welsh government had begun work "with the other UK governments" on the proposal for exclusion.

A Welsh government website said the government no longer intends to implement a ban by spring 2026.

"The Welsh government remains committed to bringing in the remaining phase two bans at a later date," it said.