Citation and commencement

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 1st July 2020.

Amendments to the Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000

2.—(1) The Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1), in the definition of “PCBs”, for “4(3) and (4), 5(3), 6(2) and 9(3)” substitute “4(3A), (3C) and (4), 5(3) and 9(3)”.

(3) In regulation 4—

(a)in paragraph (1), for “(2), (3)” substitute “(2) to (3D)”;

(b)for paragraph (3), substitute—

“(3A) Paragraph (3B) applies to a transformer in respect of which it is reasonable to assume that the fluids contain—

(a)0.005% by weight, or less, of PCBs; or

(b)a total volume of 0.05dm3, or less, of PCBs.

(3B) A transformer to which this paragraph applies—

(a)may be held until the end of its useful life; and

(b)must then be decontaminated in accordance with paragraph (4)(b) to (d), or disposed of, as soon as possible.

(3C) Paragraph (3D) applies to a transformer in respect of which it is reasonable to assume that the fluids contain—

(a)more than 0.005% but no more than 0.05% by weight of PCBs; and

(b)a total volume of more than 0.05dm3 of PCBs.

(3D) A transformer to which this paragraph applies—

(a)may be held until the end of 31st December 2025; and

(b)must then be decontaminated in accordance with paragraph (4)(b) to (d), or disposed of, as soon as possible.”;

(c)in paragraph (4)(a), for “less than 0.05% by weight and, if possible, to no more than 0.005% by weight” substitute “0.005% by weight, or less, or a total volume of 0.05dm3, or less”;

(d)in paragraph (9)—

(i)in paragraph (a), for “(2), (3)” substitute “(2) to (3D)”;

(ii)in paragraphs (b) and (c), for “not contaminated”, in both places it occurs, substitute “relevant”;

(e)after paragraph (9) insert—

“(10) In paragraph (9), “relevant equipment” means any equipment (including any capacitor or receptacle containing residual stocks) which—

(a)contains PCBs; or

(b)having contained PCBs, has not been decontaminated,

other than one which contains a total volume of PCBs exceeding 0.05dm3.

(11) For the purposes of paragraph (10)—

(a)the PCB volume of a power capacitor shall be measured by reference to all of the separate elements of a combined set; and

(b)any thing of a type which may contain PCBs shall be treated as containing PCBs unless it is reasonable to assume the contrary.”.

(4) For regulation 5(3) substitute—

“(3) Equipment in respect of which it is reasonable to assume that the fluids contain—

(a)0.005% by weight, or less, of PCBs; or

(b)a total volume of 0.05dm3, or less, of PCBs,

may be labelled as “PCBs contaminated <0.005% or <0.05dm3.”.

(5) Omit regulation 6(2)(b).

(6) In regulation 10, in paragraph (1), for “(2), (3)” substitute “(2) to (3D)”.

(7) For regulation 13(2)(c)(i), substitute—

“(ia)in a case to which paragraph (3A) of regulation 4 applies, as soon as possible after the end of its useful life;

(ib)in a case to which paragraph (3C) of regulation 4 applies, as soon as possible after 31st December 2025;”.

(8) In regulation 13A(1), in the table, for the entry relating to regulation 13(2)(c)(i) substitute—

(9) In regulation 13B(1), in the table, for the entry relating to regulation 13(2)(c)(i) substitute—

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations partially implement Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council on persistent organic pollutants (recast) (OJ No. L 169, 25.6.2019, p. 45).

Regulation 2(3) amends regulation 4 of the Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1043) (“2000 Regulations”), in particular by replacing paragraph (3) with new paragraphs (3A) to (3D).

This amendment partially implements the second sentence of the entry in the fourth column of the row relating to Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the table at Part A of Annex 1 to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021. That sentence provides that Member States shall identify and remove from use equipment (e.g. transformers, capacitors or other receptacles containing liquid stocks) containing more than 0.005 % PCBs and volumes greater than 0.05 dm3, as soon as possible but no later than 31st December 2025.

The remaining provisions make related changes to the 2000 Regulations, in particular to regulation 13 (offences and penalties), regulation 13A (civil sanctions in England) and regulation 13B (civil sanctions in Wales).

A full impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector may be seen alongside this instrument at legislation.gov.uk or obtained by writing to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ground Floor, Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF.