The Environmental Protection (Wet Wipes Containing Plastic) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

What do the new regulations do?

The regulations ban the sale and supply of wet wipes containing plastic (with some exemptions).

DAERA has introduced new regulations to tackle the problem of wet wipes containing plastic and the corresponding impacts of plastic and microplastic pollution. This supports the Departments commitment to reduce plastic pollution within the NI Environmental Improvement Plan.

All UK nations are introducing legislation to ban wet wipes containing plastic.

Exemptions

Exemptions have been included for the sale of wet wipes containing plastic for use in business and medical settings including to individuals for medical reasons.  They can be provided by registered pharmacies.

Key dates

The regulations will come into force in Northern Ireland on 18 May 2027.

There is an 18-month transition period after the regulations were made (18 November 2025) to allow retailers enough time to use up existing stock and source a plastic free alternative.

Consultation

A UK wide consultation on options around a ban on wet wipes containing plastics was held from 14 October to 25 October 2023.

You can view the Government response to the consultation here – GOV.UK Summary of responses and government response

Further information

Read the full text of the Regulations here - The Environmental Protection (Wet Wipes Containing Plastic) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025