Scots could be left with less choice when shopping for drinks as a result of a flagship recycling scheme, producers have warned.
One English business owner predicted the "complications and costs" of the Scottish Government's deposit return scheme meant that many firms would stop selling their products north of the Border.
Drinks firms are required to register for the recycling initiative by March 1 ahead of its official launch on August 16.
But some companies fear it will place extra costs on them at a time they are already struggling.
Chris Jones, co-founder of the Manchester-based drinks company Paragon Brands, said: "I'm part of a wider drinks forum group of approximately 300 smaller producers and it's fair to say a huge number of them who have simply taken the option to stop selling in Scotland.
"The complications and the costs and the complexity involved in setting yourself up for this scheme just mean the commercial returns are not there - they can't afford to trade in Scotland."
Lorna Slater, the Greens minister responsible for delivering the flagship recycling scheme, insisted it would start this year as planned.
She said today it was "all systems go" for the initiative, despite warnings from producers that a "huge number" of smaller drinks firms could stop selling their products in Scotland.
The MSP held what was described as an "urgent meeting" with small drinks firms on last week.
Asked if the deposit return will come into force from August 16 as planned, the minister told BBC Radio Scotland: “Absolutely, it is all systems go for Scotland’s deposit return scheme.”
The move will mean shoppers in Scotland pay an extra 20p when buying drinks in a can or bottle, with this then returned to them when they bring back the empty container for recycling.
Slater continued: "Our scheme is very similar to successful schemes around the world that do increase recycling but also reduce litter on our streets. We’ve got to do something about it and the deposit return scheme is our answer to that.”
"The Scottish Parliament passed the legislation on this back in 2020 and we have been working really closely with industry towards this August launch date. In fact, we already pushed it back by a year to allow businesses to recover after Covid. And now we have been working through concerns of industry.
"I am aware there are still some outstanding concerns from small producers and importers particularly, which I absolutely take seriously and we are working through solutions to these as well. I met with small producers on Friday and I am taking their concerns really, really seriously."
Scottish Conservative MSP Maurice Golden said: "Lorna Slater’s repeated claim that it’s ‘all systems go for Scotland’s deposit return scheme’ is like someone putting their foot down at a red light and heading straight into a major pile-up.]
"Businesses have to sign up to this scheme within a matter of days without any idea of the costs involved. Small producers say that they will be driven out of business or won’t be able to trade in Scotland. Wholesale experts predict many products will double in price and about 20-40 per cent will simply be taken off Scottish shelves."
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