Directive (EU) 2018/852 amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste

27 June 2018

Comes into force: 4th July 2018

Mini Summary

This Directive makes amendments to Directive 94/62/EC on Packaging and Packaging waste and requires Member States to take appropriate measures to encourage reusable packaging and the reuse of packaging.

This Directive also sets a number of new recovery and recycling targets for Member States.

Article 5 (Reuse) is replaced in order to give more detail on the measures Member States can use to encourage the use of reusable packaging.

Article 6 (Recovery and recycling) is amended to add a number of targets for Member States on the percentage of packaging waste to be recycled.

Other minor amendments are also made regarding:

• Definitions.

• Rules on the calculation of the attainment of the targets.

• Return, collection and recovery systems.

• Examining the feasibility of essential requirements.

European Directives are not directly enforceable on businesses in the UK. The Directives simply create obligations for member states to implement national legislation. However, they may frequently be of interest because they set the standards which national legislation seeks to implement.

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