Lobbying Update

Deposit Return Scheme and Alcohol Advertising Consultation

On your behalf, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) has been actively campaigning and representing member views on a range of Scottish Government regulations. This update focuses on the Deposit Return Scheme and the Alcohol Advertising & Promotions Consultation.

Deposit Return Scheme:

Since SCC have been raising the business voice on this matter, we have achieved the following:

• Implementation date:

Secured a delay to the original implementation date of the scheme in 2022.

• Reduced producer fees:

Circularity Scotland has published significantly reduced producer fees and Day 1 payments. The changes mean producer fees will be 8%, 30% and 40% lower for glass, PET plastic and metal containers respectively. The Day 1 payments for producers using UK-wide barcodes will also be reduced by two thirds, from 2.4 months of fees to 3 weeks of fees.

• Online takeback:

Initially only the largest grocery supermarkets will be obliged to provide a takeback service; all other businesses will be exempt.

Restricting Alcohol Advertising & Promotions Consultation:

A part of SCC’s policy approach is to reduce the amount of regulation on Scottish businesses. As such, SCC has raised this matter with senior Scottish Government officials, specifically requesting that the consultation is paused immediately. We cited this would be a “signal of intent” by the Scottish Government that it was listening to the business community and would help to ease the burden on businesses during this economic climate.

On the basis that the consultation proceeds, SCC is continuing to prepare our response to it, specifically focusing

Dr Liz Cameron CBE, Chief Executive of the SCC comments on recent lobbying successes and to future lobbying focuses: on impacts on the drinks industry domestically and exporting potential as well as divergence between Scotland and rest of the UK.

The recent move to delay the short-term lets licensing scheme was welcome and we had hoped for additional signalling from the Deputy First Minister to delay other burdensome legislation such as the Deposit Return Scheme. This will continue to cause a great deal of frustration for affected sectors and we will therefore continue to represent sector concerns to the Scottish Government through the Join Regulatory Taskforce.

SCC is working in partnership with other business associations including the Scotch Whisky Association to ensure a joined-up industry approach on this policy area.

Ayrshire businesses can submit their concerns about the Deposit Return Scheme and Alcohol Advertising Consultation by emailing Ayrshire Chamber via enquiries@ayrshire-chamber. org