Boss March 2022 lobbying update | #government | #hacking | #cyberattack | #hacking | #aihp

Political Update

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia on the 24th of February is a tragic event, and everyone’s thoughts are with the people of Ukraine in this devastating humanitarian crisis. The prime minister has now met with the Canadian and Dutch prime ministers in London and tomorrow he’ll meet with the leaders of the V4 (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) to suggest a six-point plan of action. 

Here are some resources. In this article you’ll find:

• links to information, research and government guidance that may support your business and employees at this time
• signposts to information about how businesses can help the people of Ukraine
• economic analysis from the Confederation of British Industry, of which BOSS are a member through the BPIF.

You are encouraged to share your efforts, which will be publicised so companies in the sector can collaborate where appropriate, please email amy@bossfederation.co.uk.

BOSS meet regularly with BEIS who’ve asked us to feed in business insight. If your business is impacted by these events, please email carys@bossfederation.co.uk.

Government news

EPR announcement

The Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has announced that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) will not be rolled out from 2023. 

The decision means that the current Packaging Recovery Note (PRN) system will continue throughout next year and the Government will set recycling targets for the 2023 compliance period.

The Government’s full response to the consultation – which received over 1,200 entry submissions – has not yet been published.

Boss are sending DEFRA’s full statement on this in a separate member communication this week.

Sanctions on Russia

You can view all UK Government sanctions on Russia here. If you have questions about the impact of these sanctions on business or your business operations in Ukraine or Russia, contact the Government’s Export Support Service on 0300 303 8955.

Cyber threat – actions to take

With the cyber threat heightened following Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the Government’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has urged organisations of all sizes to follow its stepsto reduce the risk of falling victim to a cyber-attack.

The NCSC says that while it’s not aware of any current specific threats to UK organisations in relation to events in and around Ukraine, there has been an historical pattern of cyber-attacks on Ukraine with international consequences.

Activity roundup

Tighter controls on printing ink chemicals

BOSS are members of the Graphics & Print Media Alliance and have co-signed a letter written to the Home Office with concerns that two chemicals used in printing ink are due to be banned by law. Unless something is done, the tighter controls will impact Gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO), meaning that industrial users will require a controlled drugs licence from 15 June 2022. It’s been reported that the Home Office initially thought fewer than 70 print companies would be affected, whereas the GPMA’s letter points out that over 4,000 companies use such inks.

The letter aims to open the dialogue with the Home Office over the coming days, which will be updated on you in next month’s Update (check the news section of BOSS website in the interim).

Paper shortages

BOSS partner BPIF has also been talking to the government about the impact of the strike at UPM paper mills in Finland. The strike is currently causing critical shortages of paper stocks across the UK and Europe, especially for label making (which will affect the labelling of everyday products such as food and medicines). The strike began on 1 January and could run until 6 April unless UPM can reach an agreement with the Paperworkers’ Union. 

The UK Government has limited ability to intervene in a commercial dispute in another country, but they’ve been kept appraised. BPIF have also added their name to the statement made by Intergraf and another by FINAT (the European association for the self-adhesive label industry). National press outlets have picked up the story, and BPIF CEO Charles Jarrold was interviewed bright and early on BBC Radio 5 Live on 17 February (access the interview via BBC Sounds and scroll to 5.30am). 

Plastic Packaging Tax – one month to go

Remember, you can join the PPT webinar event with HMRC 10 March at 10.a.m.

There will be a 40-minute presentation on the final application and details of PPT, followed by a 20-minute Q&A session in which BOSS and the BPIF will raise outstanding questions on behalf of the industry.