Legislation
The SWA can provide practical advice, support and compliance material in several key areas, including:
- Health & Safety Law
- Food Hygiene Law and HACCP
- Fire Safety Law
- Anti-Money Laundering Responsibilities
- Licensing Requirements
- Waste Management and Recycling
- Company Training Courses
We can help you by liaising on your behalf with enforcement officers and providing workable solutions for businesses to comply with the law. All SWA members can make use of the services of ecos, our independent consultancy, in answering appropriately framed questions regarding compliance.
Contact the SWA if you wish to discuss your requirements with us or have any queries.
The Alcohol Act Explained - A Guide to the Legislation
The SWA has been the driving force behind the publication of a new trade guide for independent retailers selling alcohol.
It has been produced by the SWA and the Scottish Grocers' Federation (SGF) - in advance of more key changes to licensing legislation taking effect from 1st October 2011.
'The Alcohol Act Explained - A Guide to the Legislation', an important guide to the law for retailers, has been produced by the SWA and SGF in partnership with leading drinks companies Heineken UK, Molson Coors, Diageo, InBev UK, Maxxium UK, Accolade Wines, Whyte & Mackay, Carlsberg and Tennent Caledonian Breweries.
Acknowledged by the Scottish Government, the new guide - a comprehensive reference guide to the licensing legislation governing the sale of alcohol via off-licences in Scotland - is a unique collaboration between the SWA, SGF and leading drinks companies.
Designed to help retailers understand the law and, crucially, promote responsible retailing, it has been presented to the influential Scottish Government Alcohol Industry Partnership with distribution to retailers taking place over the next few weeks, in advance of the new legislation coming into force on 1st October.
From 1st October 2011, under the Alcohol Etc (Scotland) Act 2010, all retailers selling alcohol in Scotland will have to adhere to strict new rules covering alcohol promotions, the advertising of promotions, the position of promotions in-store and pricing.
All retailers selling alcohol will also be required to adopt a 'Challenge 25' policy from 1st October and be aware of the fact that if any staff member sells alcohol to someone under the age of 18, the retailer - as well as the employee - could be prosecuted.
A website - www.AlcoholComplianceScotland.co.uk - is also available to enable retailers to download 'Challenge 25' point-of-sale (POS) material and keep abreast of ongoing alcohol legislation. It will be updated on a regular basis to help retailers ensure that they operate responsibly and within the law.
The new guide is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to the law. Instead, it is an extremely valuable reference guide for retailers who should keep copies handy to allow them - and their staff - to refer to it at any given time. It is written in an easy-to-understand format and uses a Q&A approach, answering the questions that retailers will most likely want to ask and clearly laying out the 'Dos and Don'ts' in plain English.
'The Alcohol Act Explained - A Guide to the Legislation' is being distributed to retailers via the SGF and SWA member wholesalers. Additional copies are available from the offices of the SWA (0131 556 8753) and SGF (0131 343 3300).
Packaging Waste Compliance
This impacts on your wholesale, cash & carry and delivered catering business
Originally introduced in 1997, Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 works on the principle of 'Collective Producer Responsibility', requiring producers of packaging to take responsibility for their environmental impact.
Does this apply to me?
You become obligated if your business:
- Has a turnover exceeding £2 million, and
- Supplies (or imports) more than 50 tonnes of packaging each year.
If your business exceeds both thresholds you will be required to meet annual recycling targets related to the type and weight of packaging that you produce.
What do I need to do?
Obligated producers in Scotland are required to register, either directly through the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, or through one of the many approved Compliance Schemes in operation.
Is there a registration deadline?
All producers are required to register by April; deadlines vary slightly depending on which method you choose:
- Direct Registrants should register with SEPA by April 7th;
- Compliance Scheme registrants should register by April 15th
Which is better - Direct Registration or through a Compliance Scheme?
There are arguments for and against both, but suffice to say that there will be some work and cost involved, regardless of which you choose.
Registering through an approved Compliance Scheme means they take on the legal liability for their members; so if a firm fails to comply, the scheme is prosecuted - not the member.
Direct Registrants must submit a report with detailed information about packaging handled in the previous year, including material type, activities performed and the gross weight of each packaging type. Obligations exceeding 500 tonnes also require a detailed Operational Plan.
Which is more cost effective?
Direct Registration costs slightly more to register with the Agency - £776 per annum for a Full Producer, or £562 for a Small Producer (if your turnover is between £2m and £5m); there is however no Compliance Scheme membership cost.
Complying through a scheme costs £564 for Full Producers and £345 for Small Producers plus a membership fee, which varies by scheme; other costs may apply for subsidiaries. Producers should also be aware that the agencies charge fees for late registration and resubmission.
This seems like a lot of work - is there an easier way?
With more than 12 years' experience and 200 clients in UK and Ireland, Greenstreets has the experience and expertise to remove the headache of preparing your annual Packaging Waste returns.
Why not outsource this laborious work to our specialist team and you will have the peace of mind of knowing that your data will be submitted correctly and cost efficiently - regardless of whether you register directly or through a Compliance Scheme.
Furthermore, as a Supplier Member of the Scottish Wholesale Association, Greenstreets is offering a special 15% introductory discount to members of the Association who sign up for our service during 2012.
How much will this service cost me?
All work undertaken is priced on a case-by case basis. Indeed, some SWA members, including William Yule and Son and Highland Spring, have already used our service and been pleasantly surprised by the price.
How do I find out more information?
If you would like to find out more this service, please email Michael O'Byrne at Greenstreets or log onto the company's website. You can also call +353 1 4100618.