[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/UK Batteries Regulation UKBatteries # UK Batteries and Accumulators Regulations: What's Changing for Battery Products in Great Britain If you place any battery or battery-containing product on the GB market — from a power bank to an industrial UPS — you are a battery producer with registration, reporting, and labeling obligations. With EPR targets rising and the EU Battery Regulation reshaping global supply chains, understanding the GB-specific framework has never been more important. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Fuk-batteries-regulation-2024) At a glance Regulations UK Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2008 (as amended) Administrator Environment Agency / NRW / SEPA EPR Battery producer compliance schemes Labeling Crossed-out wheelie bin + capacity mandatory ## What UK battery regulations require ### Producer registration — mandatory for all GB battery market participants Any company that manufactures batteries in Great Britain, or that imports and first places batteries or battery-containing products on the GB market, is a battery producer under the regulations and must register with the Environment Agency (in England), Natural Resources Wales, or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Registration must be completed before placing batteries on the market — there is no grace period for new market entrants. ### Compliance scheme membership — how most producers meet their obligations Most battery producers meet their extended producer responsibility (EPR) obligations by joining an approved Battery Compliance Scheme (BCS). Approved schemes include Valpak, Ecosurety, and others authorised by the Environment Agency. The scheme collects sales data from members, funds collection infrastructure, and reports collection and recycling performance to the regulator on behalf of member producers. Large producers above defined tonnage thresholds can alternatively register as individual large producers. ### Collection and recycling targets — producers fund the system Battery producers are financially responsible for funding collection and recycling to meet statutory targets set by the Environment Agency. Targets are expressed as a percentage of batteries placed on the market by weight (calculated as a rolling average). Targets have been increasing over time and the UK government has signalled further upward revision as part of its EPR reforms. Compliance schemes pass these costs to members through an annual compliance fee calculated on reported battery sales volumes. ### Labeling — wheelie bin symbol, capacity, and chemical markings All batteries placed on the GB market must display the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol, indicating that the battery should not be disposed of in general waste. Batteries above 1 Wh must display their capacity in Wh. Where a battery contains more than 0.0005% mercury, 0.002% cadmium, or 0.004% lead by weight, the relevant chemical symbol (Hg, Cd, or Pb) must appear beneath the wheelie bin symbol. These labeling requirements apply to cells within products as well as standalone batteries. ## How to meet UK battery producer obligations 01 Determine whether you are a battery producer under the UK Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2008 — the definition captures manufacturers, importers, and branded re-labellers who first place batteries or battery-containing products on the GB market, regardless of battery chemistry or size. 02 Register with the appropriate regulator before placing batteries on the market: Environment Agency Battery Producer Register for England; Natural Resources Wales for Wales; SEPA for Scotland. Registration is online and requires details of your battery types, estimated annual sales volumes, and your compliance route. 03 Join an approved Battery Compliance Scheme or, if your annual battery sales exceed the large producer threshold, register as a large producer and meet obligations individually — your compliance scheme or the Environment Agency will advise on the applicable threshold for your battery category. 04 Report your battery sales data annually by battery type (portable, industrial, automotive, or light means of transport) — accurate categorisation matters because collection and recycling targets differ by battery class and incorrect categorisation can result in under- or over-payment of compliance fees. 05 Audit your product labeling to confirm that all batteries and battery-containing products carry the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol and, where required, the Wh capacity declaration and applicable chemical hazard symbols — a common non-compliance finding is that the symbol is too small to be clearly visible or is absent from the cell inside a sealed product. ## Frequently asked questions ### Who counts as a battery producer under UK regulations? A battery producer is any company that manufactures batteries in Great Britain, imports batteries into Great Britain, or rebrands batteries for supply to the GB market under its own name or trademark. The definition is deliberately broad to prevent producers from avoiding obligations by restructuring supply relationships. If you source battery-containing products from overseas and sell them under your own brand in GB, you are the producer for EPR purposes even if you did not manufacture the product. ### Does the EU Battery Regulation apply in Great Britain? No. The EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 applies in EU member states and in Northern Ireland (under the Windsor Framework), but not in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales). Great Britain operates its own battery regulatory framework under the UK Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2008 as amended. The UK government has committed to reviewing GB battery regulations to consider alignment with aspects of the EU Battery Regulation, but any changes require separate UK legislation and have not yet been enacted. ### What are the recycling targets for portable batteries in the UK? The UK collection target for portable batteries has been set at 61% of batteries placed on the market in the preceding three years, calculated by weight. This target applies to the compliance scheme collectively, not to individual producers. The UK government has consulted on increasing targets further as part of its extended producer responsibility reforms. Producers should check current target levels with their compliance scheme annually, as targets are reviewed through statutory instrument. ### Do power banks need the wheelie bin label in the UK? Yes. Power banks contain lithium cells which are batteries within the scope of the UK Batteries and Accumulators Regulations. The crossed-out wheelie bin symbol must appear on the power bank (or, if the cells are internal and not separately accessible, on the product packaging). The Wh capacity declaration is required for batteries above 1 Wh — all commercially available power bank cells exceed this threshold. The labeling obligation applies regardless of whether the power bank is sold as a standalone product or included in a bundle with other items. **Disclaimer:** Educational resource only. Regulatory requirements change and vary by product category. Consult an accredited test laboratory or qualified compliance engineer before making certification decisions. 🇬🇧 UK roadmap for your product Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap[ Want an expert to take your product through 🇬🇧 UK compliance for you? One consultant from Krono's compliance team takes your product from requirements to legal sale, with a fixed quote before any work starts. See compliance services](/services) Learn this properly In-depth course that teaches the full process, not just this one answer. [Start the course — $149](/courses/23-uk-battery-regulations-weee-compliance-electronics-producers)[Prefer to read? Get the book — $24.99](/books/23-uk-battery-regulations-weee-compliance-electronics-producers) Related guides * [UK Product Safety and Metrology BillThe UK Product Safety and Metrology Bill (PSMB) updates Great Britain's product safety framework post-GPSR: OPSS enforcement powers, online marketplace duties, and GB designated standards.](/guides/uk-product-safety-metrology-bill) * [CE Marking for Power BanksCE marking for portable chargers and power banks: LVD, EMC Directive, RoHS, EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 labeling, and UN 38.3 transport testing obligations.](/guides/ce-marking-for-power-banks) * [EU Battery RegulationA complete guide to EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542: labelling, carbon footprint declarations, battery passports, recyclability…](/guides/eu-battery-regulation) * [UK Modern Slavery Act Supply ChainUK Modern Slavery Act 2015 Section 54 transparency statements: six reporting areas, the government registry, electronics supply chain risk areas, and CSDDD comparison.](/guides/uk-modern-slavery-act-supply-chain)