The Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers (England and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025

s.sch001

Registration application

• Register as a scheme producer with the deposit management organisation Manufacturer

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Decision on registration application

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must decide registration applications by Oct 2027 Statutory regulator

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Requirement to notify the deposit management organisation of changes in registration information

• Notify deposit management organisation of changes to registration information Manufacturer

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Cancellation of registration on the request of the registered person

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must cancel registration when you ask Statutory regulator

s.sch001

Deposit management organisation’s power to cancel registration

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must follow due process when cancelling registration Statutory regulator

s.sch002

Application for registration

• Register with the deposit management organisation by 1 October 2027 Distributor

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Application for registration: decision

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must register and notify in-scope retailers Statutory regulator

s.sch002

Cancellation of registration

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must cancel registrations under specified conditions and follow due process Statutory regulator

s.sch003

Applications for return point exemptions

• Apply for a return point exemption from the deposit management organisation Distributor

s.sch003

Decision on applications for return point exemptions

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must decide exemption applications within a reasonable time Statutory regulator

s.sch003

Duration, and renewal, of a return point exemption

• Apply to renew your return point exemption before it expires Trader

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Duty to notify the deposit management organisation of a relevant change of circumstances

• Notify the deposit management organisation of relevant changes within 28 days Trader

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Revocation of a return point exemption at the request of the exemption holder

• Request revocation of your return point exemption Any Person

s.sch003

Revocation of a return point exemption on initiative of the deposit management organisation

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• DMO must follow due process when revoking a return point exemption Statutory regulator

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Revocation of authorisation on initiative of the deposit management organisation

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must follow fair revocation procedure Statutory regulator

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Decision on application

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must decide authorisation applications and notify applicants Statutory regulator

s.sch004

Decision on application

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit Management Organisation must decide on applications and notify applicants Statutory regulator

s.sch004

Duty to notify the deposit management organisation of a change in the applicant information, return point authorisation information or take-back service authorisation information

• Notify the deposit management organisation of changes to your authorisation details Distributor

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Revocation of authorisation on request

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Revoke return point and take-back service authorisations on request and notify Statutory regulator

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Revocation of a person’s appointment as the deposit management organisation: on notice

• Notify Secretary of State to resign as deposit management organisation Any Person

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Revocation of a person’s appointment as the deposit management organisation: discretion of the Secretary of State

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Secretary of State must follow due process when revoking a DMO appointment Crown / Minister / Government department

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Contents of final notice

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Regulator must include specific information in penalty final notice Statutory regulator

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Issue of a compliance notice

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Enforcement authority must satisfy conditions before issuing a compliance notice Statutory regulator

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Contents of an enforcement undertaking

• Ensure your enforcement undertaking contains all required details Any Person

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Effect of acceptance of an enforcement undertaking

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Enforcement authority must not impose other civil sanctions after accepting an undertaking Statutory regulator

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Publication of enforcement undertakings

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Enforcement authorities must publish accepted enforcement undertakings Statutory regulator

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Discharge of an enforcement undertaking

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Enforcement authority must issue discharge certificate when undertaking complied with Statutory regulator

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Partial compliance with an enforcement undertaking

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Enforcement authority must consider partial compliance when imposing other sanctions Statutory regulator

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Final notice of decision to impose an FMP

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Enforcement authority must serve final notice with payment details and appeal rights Statutory regulator

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Power to impose a VMP

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Enforcement authority must follow rules when imposing a Variable Monetary Penalty Local authority

s.sch007

Appeal to the appeals commission: decision on appeal

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Appeals commission must notify appellant of decision and send reasons Tribunal / Court

s.011

Requirement for scheme producers to be registered to supply SP container drinks

• Register with deposit management organisation before supplying SP container drinks Manufacturer

s.012

Register of registered scheme producers

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must publish and maintain register of registered scheme producers Statutory regulator

s.013

Requirement for registered scheme producers to keep records about supply of SP container drinks

• Keep records of each SP container drink supplied and retain for 7 years Manufacturer

s.014

Deposit management organisation: power to obtain information from registered scheme producers

• Comply with deposit management organisation's information requests Manufacturer

s.016

Persons ceasing to be registered scheme producers: continuing duties and requirements to record and provide information.

• Fulfil continuing duties after scheme producer registration cancellation Manufacturer

s.017

Persons ceasing to be registered scheme producers: updating of the SP register

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must update the SP register when a producer leaves Statutory regulator

s.018

Registration of a product line as a “low volume line”

• Apply to register a low‑volume product line with the deposit management organisation Manufacturer

s.019

Cancellation of registration of a product line as a “low volume line”

• Notify the deposit management organisation if your low‑volume product line exceeds the size threshold Manufacturer

s.020

Registration of a product line as a “low volume line”: updates to the SP register

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must update SP register for low-volume line changes Statutory regulator

s.021

Producer registration fees

• Pay registration fees to deposit management organisation Manufacturer

s.022

Deposits

• Pay deposits for each drinks container you supply Manufacturer

s.023

Prohibition on supply of drinks produced etc. by a scheme producer who is not registered with the deposit management organisation

• Do not supply deposit items from unregistered producers Distributor

s.024

Labelling of deposit items and scheme multipacks

• Ensure your deposit items and multipacks carry the required logos and barcodes Distributor

s.025

Labelling of registered low volume products

• Do not supply low volume products carrying deposit scheme logos Distributor

s.026

Duty to display information about the Scheme

• Display deposit scheme information to customers Distributor

s.027

Duty to display information about registered low volume products

• Display low volume product information to customers Any Person

s.028

Requirement to charge a deposit

• Charge a deposit on each deposit item supplied to customers Distributor

s.029

Duty to display information at or on opted-out premises

• Display opt-out information clearly at opted-out premises Distributor

s.030

Deposit management organisation: power to obtain information from scheme suppliers

• Provide information requested by the deposit management organisation Distributor

s.031

Direction specifying an overseas scheme for the purposes of these Regulations

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must specify overseas schemes via written direction Statutory regulator

s.032

Determination of overseas refund amount

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must determine, consult on and publish overseas refund amounts Statutory regulator

s.033

The amount of the additional scheme refund: supplementary provisions

• Deposit management organisation must set overseas refund amounts fairly Any Person

s.034

Requirement for in-scope retailers to operate a return point at, on or from MRP premises

• Operate a return point for drinks containers at your retail premises Distributor

s.036

Requirement for groceries retailers to provide information at or on retail premises without a return point

• Display information if your shop has no return point Distributor

s.040

Information to be provided at a return point

• Display refund point information for customers Operator

s.042

Information about take-back services

• Provide clear take-back service information to customers Operator

s.043

Collection or acceptance of returnable items by the deposit management organisation

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must pay return amount for each accepted item Statutory regulator

s.044

Register of return point operators and deposit management organisation return points

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Keep a public register of return point operators and DMO return points Statutory regulator

s.045

The register of return point exemptions

• Maintain a public register of return point exemptions Any Person

s.046

The register of take-back service providers

• Keep and maintain a register of take-back service providers Any Person

s.047

Form of return amount

• Offer cash or voucher refund for returned drinks containers Distributor

s.048

Requirement for return point operators to retain returnable items

• Retain returnable items accepted at your return point until collected by DMO Operator

s.049

Requirement for take-back service providers to retain or return returnable items

• Handle returnable items by retaining for collection or returning to DMO Operator

s.051

Conditions

• Deposit management organisation must comply with Secretary of State's conditions Any Person

s.052

Operational plan

• Manage and follow the deposit scheme operational plan Any Person

s.053

Annual reports

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must submit annual report on operational plan compliance Crown / Minister / Government department

s.054

Reserve fund

• Establish and maintain a reserve fund for the drinks container deposit scheme Any Person

s.055

Scheme logo and scheme packaging logo

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must issue and manage scheme logos Statutory regulator

s.056

Publication of scheme logo and scheme packaging logo

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must publish scheme logos for suppliers and consumers Statutory regulator

s.057

Scheme return code

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit Management Organisation must set and notify scheme return code rules Statutory regulator

s.058

Agreement on a common scheme logo, scheme packaging logo, and scheme return code

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must agree common scheme logo and return code with other administrators Statutory regulator

s.059

Requirement to determine the amount of the deposit

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must set and publish deposit levels Statutory regulator

s.060

Determination of revised deposit level

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must publish notice of revised deposit level with 3-month lead time Statutory regulator

s.061

The amount of the deposit: supplementary provisions

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must consult before setting deposit levels Statutory regulator

s.062

Use of amounts received as deposits

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must ring-fence deposits for refunds Statutory regulator

s.063

Registration fees for scheme producers

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit Management Organisation must charge registration fees, consult producers, and review fees annually Statutory regulator

s.064

Use of registration fees

• Use registration fees only for intended purposes and pay NEA share Any Person

s.065

Review of operation of return points

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit Management Organisation must review return points regularly Statutory regulator

s.066

Collection etc. of returnable items from scheme collectors and retailers and connected payment

• Collect returnable items and pay collectors and retailers under the deposit scheme Any Person

s.067

The handling payment

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must pay handling payments to return points Statutory regulator

s.068

Recycling of in-scope material from returned refund items

• Deposit management organisation must arrange recycling and offer right of first refusal to registered producers Any Person

s.069

Recycling of in-scope material from other returned items

• Make recycling arrangements with relevant administrators for returned items Any Person

s.070

Amounts received in connection with arrangements made under regulation 68 or 69

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must use retained recycling income for NEA costs first Statutory regulator

s.071

Amounts to be paid to the national enforcement authorities

• Deposit management organisation must make payments to national enforcement authorities as agreed Any Person

s.072

Information about returns data

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must supply returns data to producers and enforcement authorities Statutory regulator

s.073

Co-operation

• Maintain co-operation and information-sharing arrangements with enforcement authorities Any Person

s.076

Internal review of decisions made by the deposit management organisation

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must review decisions on request Statutory regulator

s.077

Internal review: procedure

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must set internal review procedure and not charge a fee Statutory regulator

s.081

Collection targets: the deposit management organisation

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Deposit management organisation must meet annual collection targets for drinks containers Statutory regulator

s.085

Information

• Provide information when a scheme authority demands it Any Person

s.086

Obstructing an authorised person

Unlimited fine

• Obstruct or fail to assist an enforcement officer Any Person

s.087

Failure to comply with civil sanction

Unlimited fine

• Fail to comply with a civil sanction under the deposit scheme Any Person

s.094

Publication of enforcement action in public register

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• National enforcement authority must maintain public register of enforcement actions Statutory regulator

s.095

Spent convictions of individuals

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• National enforcement authorities must remove spent convictions from public register Statutory regulator

s.100

Determination of appeals

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• Decision maker must comply with appeal body's directions and determination Statutory regulator

s.101

Operational plans

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• National enforcement authorities must consult on and approve operational plan revisions Statutory regulator

s.102

Enforcement

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• National enforcement authorities must take enforcement action under Part 9 Statutory regulator

s.103

Co-operation with deposit management organisations

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• National enforcement authorities must cooperate with deposit management organisations Statutory regulator

s.104

Annual reports from deposit management organisations

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• National enforcement authorities must review annual reports and may request further information Statutory regulator

s.105

Monitoring functions

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• National enforcement authorities must monitor deposit scheme compliance Statutory regulator

s.106

Monitoring reports

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• National enforcement authorities must publish monitoring plans and annual reports Statutory regulator

s.107

Appeals

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

• National enforcement authority must comply with appeal body directions Statutory regulator