Under the proposed Regulatory Reform Bill, additional enforcement powers will be issued to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), to help deal with businesses that do not comply with legislation.
If approved, the new powers would allow the regulator to issue fines of up to £40,000 to Scottish businesses.
Ian Hewson, head of water and waste water solutions at Business Stream, said: “Trade effluent isn’t often the kind of subject people like discussing, but getting it wrong can be damaging financially, operationally and could even cost a business its reputation.”
Currently, the most serious offences can be reported to the Procurator Fiscal however, if passed, the Reform Bill would give SEPA the power to hand out on the spot fines to businesses that breach the regulations.
In England wholesalers are currently able to issue demands for up to £5,000 in the event of an offence being committed.
Hewson said: “As with most things, prevention is better than cure and understanding your business discharges can mean the difference between compliance and an expensive breach.
“If the Bill passes SEPA could look to tighten up on trade effluent offences. If this happens I fear a lot of Scottish companies will end up being caught out.”