smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has welcomed the announcement from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE). Under the legislation producers and importers of electrical and electronic goods will, from July 2007, be required to meet the environmental costs of dealing with waste products.

The FSB reflected the views of its members by expressing relief that the long-delayed regulations and fee structure has been published so that businesses now know where they stand.

The DTI’s approach in listening to the FSB’s concerns on the fee structure was ‘particularly refreshing’, says the FSB, ‘however, the changes do not appear to have gone far enough and it still risks being overly expensive for smaller businesses.’

The FSB claimed that it consistently highlighted throughout the consultation processes that special consideration must be given to the small business case, saying that ‘small businesses are often disproportionately affected in terms of both the administration and direct costs of legislation.’

John Holbrow, FSB environment chairman, says: ‘We broadly welcome the DTI announcement because it finally provides a degree of certainty for businesses in terms of a clear timetable for implementation. We believe that it is now imperative that the DTI begin a planned and sustained communication and awareness-raising programme aimed at small businesses.

‘WEEE will present significant financial, operational and administrative challenges for all businesses affected by the regulations. These are likely to be proportionately more burdensome for small businesses. The DTI WEEE team must take the unique position of small businesses into account during the implementation stages of the regulations.

‘The reaction of small firms that will be affected by this legislation is one of bitter-sweet relief. These regulations have been seriously delayed, causing a great deal of uncertainty, and businesses at least now know where they stand and can get on with dealing with them.'

For more information click here to visit the DTI website, or here to visit the DEFRA website.