DEFRA compliance
DEFRA Phase 1: all 14 test scenarios pass, production access live
Last verified against DEFRA's real sandbox 7 October 2026
Quick answer
DEFRA confirmed Checkwright meets Digital Waste Tracking Phase 1 requirements on 2 October 2026. All 14 PAT scenarios pass with no exemptions, and production submission is live now.
DEFRA's written production approval for Checkwright arrived 2 October 2026. Production Digital Waste Tracking submission is live now, not just configured. This page sets out exactly what was tested, and what DEFRA actually confirmed, rather than a general marketing claim.
What DEFRA confirmed
Checkwright is registered with DEFRA as a Digital Waste Tracking software provider for permitted or licensed receiving sites, with full production access live. DEFRA's own provider listing page describes this as meeting the requirements, not as "approved," so that's the precise term used here too.
Production Approval Test results
Before granting production access, DEFRA requires every software provider to pass its Production Approval Test (PAT): a fixed set of scenarios run against DEFRA's real external_test sandbox, each with a defined expected outcome. Two scenarios below (C01, H02) are deliberately invalid submissions; passing them means Checkwright correctly gets a rejection from DEFRA, not that something went wrong.
DEFRA's published PAT set is 14 scenarios, all 14 of which are shown below.
| Code | Scenario | Expected outcome | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
R01 | Single waste item | Accepted | Pass |
R02 | Multiple waste items | Accepted | Pass |
R03 | Road transport | Accepted | Pass |
R04 | No disposal or recovery codes | Accepted | Pass |
R05 | Multiple disposal or recovery codes | Accepted | Pass |
R07 | Multiple EWC codes on one item | Accepted | Pass |
C01 | No carrier registration number or reason | Rejected | Pass |
C02 | No carrier registration number, with reason | Accepted | Pass |
B01 | Broker or dealer involved | Accepted | Pass |
P01 | Multiple named POP components | Accepted | Pass |
H01 | Multiple hazardous components | Accepted | Pass |
H02 | No consignment code or reason | Rejected | Pass |
H03 | No consignment code, with reason | Accepted | Pass |
X01 | Hazardous waste that also contains POPs | Accepted | Pass |
All 14 scenarios pass, with no PAT exemptions. DEFRA's own published provider list shows several other providers with specific scenarios marked exempt; Checkwright has none.
What this does and doesn't mean
Checkwright is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of DEFRA or the Environment Agency. This page describes Checkwright's own testing against DEFRA's published sandbox and DEFRA's own written confirmation; it is not a regulatory ruling. As DEFRA's own provider list states, using listed software does not by itself guarantee compliance; your own receiving site's permit or licence status, and its correctly configured API code, determine whether your submissions are actually complete. See our Phase 1 vs Phase 2 guide for what's in scope and what isn't.
Frequently asked questions
Is Checkwright DEFRA-approved?
Checkwright is registered with DEFRA as a Digital Waste Tracking software provider: DEFRA confirmed in writing that it meets the Phase 1 requirements, and production submission is live now. DEFRA's own wording for this is "meets the requirements" rather than "approved," so that's the precise term used on this page too.
What is DEFRA's Digital Waste Tracking Phase 1?
Phase 1 is the first stage of a UK-wide digital waste tracking programme. It requires permitted or licensed waste receiving sites in England and Wales to submit waste receipt data digitally from 1 October 2026, with Scotland and Northern Ireland following from 1 January 2027.
What is a PAT scenario, and what does "no exemptions" mean?
DEFRA's Production Approval Test (PAT) is a fixed set of scenarios every software provider must pass before DEFRA grants production access. DEFRA's own published provider list shows some providers with specific scenarios marked exempt. Checkwright passes every scenario it runs, including the two that correctly test for a rejection, with no exemptions.
Does passing PAT mean my site is automatically compliant?
No. DEFRA's own guidance, and Checkwright's Terms of Service, are both clear that software meeting Digital Waste Tracking requirements is not, by itself, a guarantee of your own regulatory compliance. Your receiving site still needs its own valid permit or licence, and its EA-issued API code configured correctly in Checkwright, before Checkwright can submit on its behalf.