Plastic wet wipes ban

New regulations will prohibit the sale and supply of plastic-containing wet wipes in Northern Ireland from 18 May 2027.

The Environmental Protection (Wet Wipes containing plastic) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 ban the sale and supply of wet wipes that contain plastic.

These regulations will come into force on 17 May 2027. From this date, it will be illegal to sell or supply wet wipes containing plastic, whether the product is sold or provided for free (certain exemptions apply).

Businesses have up to 18 May 2027 to use up existing stock and to source non-plastic alternatives.

What is a wet wipe containing plastic?

A wet wipe is a non‑woven piece of fabric which has been pre‑wetted and is not designed or intended to be reused

If the wipe contains plastic fibres, it is within scope of the ban.

Which products are affected?

The ban applies to all single-use wet wipes that contain plastic, including:

baby wipes
cleaning and surface wipes (including car wipes)
pet wipes
cosmetic wipes
personal hygiene wipes

Who the ban applies to

The ban applies to all businesses and organisations in Northern Ireland that sell or supply wet wipes containing plastic to consumers.

This includes:

retailers (in-store and online)
wholesalers supplying directly to consumers
organisations providing wipes free of charge

Exemptions

Limited exemptions apply in specific circumstances.

Medical and healthcare use

Wet wipes containing plastic can still be supplied where:

they are used for medical purposes under the direction of a healthcare professional
they are supplied by a healthcare professional or a pharmacy

Registered pharmacies

Pharmacies can sell wet wipes containing plastic, but:

they must not be on display or accessible to customers
they must not be advertised
they can only be provided at the customer’s request

Business-to-business supply

Plastic wet wipes can still be supplied to businesses (for example, for industrial cleaning or catering use) but must not be resold to consumers.

Are manufacturers affected?

The ban does not apply to manufacturing or export.

Manufacturers can continue to produce plastic-containing wet wipes for:

export markets
exempt uses

However, businesses are encouraged to move towards plastic‑free alternatives.

Offences and enforcement

Offences

It is an offence for a business to:

sell or supply wet wipes containing plastic to a consumers after 18 May 2027

A business that does not comply is guilty of an offence and may be liable for a fine.

Enforcement

Enforcement of the ban of the sale and supply of wet wipes after 17 May 2027 will be carried out by authorised bodies on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.