Extended producer responsibility for packaging: templates for sampling and inspection plans

If you’re an organisation in the UK that reprocesses or exports waste packaging and you’re not a charity, you must apply for registration to comply with extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging. You can also apply for optional accreditation.

As part of your applications, you’ll need to supply a plan explaining how you determine the amount of UK packaging waste received for recycling at each reprocessing site - this is also called a sampling and inspection plan (SIP). 

You must use these templates to submit SIPs for your applications.

Exporters of packaging waste must also submit a completed version of the overseas reprocessing and interim sites log (ORS) form when applying for registration and accreditation.

Find out if you need to apply for registration and accreditation under EPR for packaging, and more details about how to submit your SIPs .

There are 4 templates available: 2 for reprocessors and 2 for exporters. There is an additional OSR form for exporters.

To apply for mandatory registration, use one of the following:

• Packaging Reprocessor Sampling and Inspection Plan – Part 1: Registration
• Packaging Exporter Sampling and Inspection Plan – Part 1: Registration

To apply for optional accreditation, you must complete one of the following:

• Packaging Reprocessor Sampling and Inspection Plan – Part 2: Accreditation
• Packaging Exporter Sampling and Inspection Plan – Part 2: Accreditation

There is also supplementary guidance to support you to complete the questions in the SIP templates.

What a SIP is

A SIP is the document in which a reprocessor or exporter: 

• determines the packaging waste fraction of the waste it receives for recycling or exporting for recycling overseas 
• sets up how they will carry out sampling and inspection of the waste they’re receiving or exporting 
• shows how they’ll keep records and evidence, including what records they’ll keep, to demonstrate compliance with the conditions of registration and their waste recording and reporting obligations 

 Overseas reprocessing and interim sites log (OSR)

Exporters of packaging waste must submit a completed version of the OSR form when applying for registration and accreditation.

Get help and give feedback

If you have any questions, contact the packaging team.  

Email: packaging@defra.gov.uk