Environmental protection
Trading standards enforce environmental protection legislation on:
- Carrier bag charges
- Microbeads
- Plastic straws, cotton buds, and stirrers
- Solid fuel restrictions
Carrier bag charges
Under the Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) Order 2015, all retailers are required to charge a minimum of 10p for every single use carrier bag which they supply. This is a charge designed to significantly reduce the number of single use carrier bags supplied, used and discarded in England.
A single use carrier bag is defined as an unused bag made of lightweight plastic material (less than 70 microns thick) with handles.
There are a number of exemptions to the minimum charge, for example those supplied with the sale of meat and fish, or a bag designed to be used multiple times ("bag for life").
Guidance on the sale of single use carrier bags can be found on the Business Companion website.
Civil sanctions for carrier bag charges
We are required to publish information on the civil sanctions imposed under the Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) Order 2015.
For the period from 5 October 2015 to 4 October 2023, Norfolk County Council Trading Standards have not imposed civil sanctions under this legislation.
Plastic plates, cutlery, straws and cotton buds
The Environmental Protection (Plastic Straws, Cotton Buds and Stirrers) (England) Regulations 2020 prohibit the supply, or oƯering to supply, any single-use plastic straw, plastic-stemmed cotton bud or plastic drink stirrer in England.
The Environmental Protection (Plastic Plates etc and Polystyrene Containers etc) (England) Regulations 2023 prohibit the supply, or offering to supply, any single-use plastic plates, bowls and trays, cutlery and balloon sticks, or polystyrene food or drink containers and cups in England.
Solid fuel restrictions
These are the rules for manufactured solid fuels and wood sold for domestic use across all of England, including smoke control areas.
The rules for wood depend on the amount of wood sold.
Wood sold in volumes of less than 2 cubic metres
Wood sold in volumes of less than 2 cubic metres must be certified as 'Ready to Burn'.
It must have the following information either attached to the packaging, alongside the wood on the shelf or next to the price:
- the logo
- supplier details
- unique certification number
This information must be clearly displayed to confirm that the fuel has a moisture content of 20% or less.
Wood sold in volumes of 2 cubic metres or more
All suppliers who sell wood in volumes of 2 cubic metres or more must provide customers with a notice that explains how to dry, store and check the moisture of the wood before it is used.
The Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural AƯairs (Defra) appointed HETAS and Woodsure to run the "Ready to Burn" fuel certification scheme. More guidance can be found on their website at www.readytoburn.org
You can report a problem with a trader or a product to Trading Standards by contacting our partners the Citizens Advice consumer service.
Telephone: 0808 223 1133 (freephone), open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. Closed on bank holidays.
Textphone: 18001 0808 223 1133
Online via the Citizens Advice consumer service
