Between 200 to 300 farmers were double-charged for producing plastic without a valid label code at bring centres in 2025, Irish Farm Film Producers Group (IFFPG) CEO Liam Moloney told the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture on Wednesday.

Addressing the committee were the Irish Farm Film Producers Group (IFFPG) and Bernie Kiely principal officer Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.

IFFPG is Ireland's approved farm plastics recycling compliance scheme collecting an estimated 45,000t of farm plastics this year.

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Earlier this year, farmers were told that they would be charged double unless they produced a valid label code on proof of purchase from their retailer or contractor.

This was to clamp down on the illegal trade of un-levied plastic coming in from Northern Ireland.

"We estimate that maybe 5% or 10% of the market might be illegal. We do all we can at the bring centres to try and identify that plastic through our traceability system. So, if a farmer brings that in and they don't have a valid label code on proof of purchase, they'll be double-charged. This was a difficult thing to do because nobody wants to be double-charged but we take our responsibility seriously when it comes to assisting the enforcement authorities so we tightened up on traceability and some farmers ended up paying double charges," Moloney said.

Legislation

Speaking to the committee, the Department official Bernie Kiely stated that Ireland is one of few countries in Europe to have introduced legislation specifically designed to promote the recycling of farm plastics.

"This legislation places a legal responsibility on producers of farm film products to specifically support recycling. The option is open to producers placing farm film products on the Irish market are to either become directly involved in the recycling of farm plastics waste and operating a deposit and return scheme, or to participate in an approved farm plastics recycling scheme.

"To date, producers have opted to meet their obligations in this respect by becoming members of the compliance scheme," she said.

IFFPG has been a part of the scheme since 1998, the company is a not for profit, which is owned by its producer members and the Irish Farmers' Association.