Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 on packaging and packaging waste, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904, and repealing Directive 94/62/EC (Text with EEA relevance)

Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to:

Compliance with the requirements set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall be demonstrated by manufacturers or importers in the technical information concerning the packaging referred to in Annex VII.

The financial contributions paid by producers in order to comply with their extended producer responsibility obligations as laid down in Article 45 may be modulated based on the percentage of recycled content used in the packaging. Any such modulation shall take into account sustainability criteria of the recycling technologies and the environmental costs for the purposes of recycled content.

By 31 December 2026, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts establishing the methodology for the calculation and verification of the percentage of recycled content recovered from post-consumer plastic waste recycled and collected within the Union in accordance with the conditions set out in paragraph 3 of this Article, as well as the format for the technical documentation referred to in Annex VII. For that purpose, the Commission shall take into account the use of resulting secondary raw materials that are of sufficient quality when compared to the original material that they can be used to substitute primary raw materials. The verification methodology may include the obligation to carry independent third-party audits on manufacturers of recycled content in the Union and of plastic packaging placed on the market as a sales unit separate from other products, to ensure that the conditions set out in paragraph 3 of this Article and in the delegated act adopted pursuant to paragraph 9 of this Article are met.

By 31 December 2026, on the basis of the assessment referred to in paragraph 8, second subparagraph, the Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 64 to supplement this Regulation with sustainability criteria for plastic recycling technologies.

By 31 December 2026, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts establishing the methodology for assessing, verifying and certifying, including through third-party audit, the equivalence of the rules applied in cases where the recycled content recovered from post-consumer plastic waste is recycled or collected in a third country. The assessment shall consider the standards of protection of environment and human health, including standards to ensure that recycling is performed in an environmentally sound manner, and standards on high-quality recycling, such as on resource efficiency and quality standards for the recycling sectors. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 65(2).

By 1 January 2029 or 24 months from the date of entry into force of the implementing act referred to in paragraph 8, whichever is the latest, the calculation and verification of the percentage of recycled content contained in packaging under paragraph 1 shall comply with the rules laid down in the implementing act adopted pursuant to paragraph 8.

By 1 January 2028, the Commission shall assess the need for derogations from the minimum percentages of recycled content laid down in paragraph 1, points (b) and (d), for specific plastic packaging, or the revision of the list of exceptions in paragraph 4 for specific plastic packaging.

Where the lack of availability or excessive prices of specific recycled plastics makes compliance with the minimum percentages of recycled content set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article excessively difficult, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 64 to amend those paragraphs by adjusting the minimum percentages accordingly. In evaluating whether such adjustment is appropriate, the Commission shall assess requests from natural or legal persons to be accompanied by relevant information and data on the market situation for the post-consumer plastic waste and best available evidence regarding the related risks to human or animal health, to the security of food supply or to the environment. The Commission shall adopt such a delegated act only in exceptional cases where there would be severe adverse effects for human or animal health, the security of food supply or the environment.

By 12 February 2032, taking into account the evolution of the state of the art of the technology and the practical experience gained by economic operators and Member States, the Commission shall present a report reviewing the implementation of the 2030 minimum percentages of recycled content set out in paragraph 1 and evaluating to what extent those percentages lead to solutions fostering sustainable packaging that are effective and easy to implement, the feasibility of the achievement of the 2040 minimum percentages on the basis of the experience in achieving the 2030 minimum percentages and the evolving circumstances, the relevance of maintaining the exceptions and derogations set out in this Article, and the necessity or pertinence of setting new minimum percentages of recycled content. That report shall, where appropriate, be accompanied by a legislative proposal amending this Article, in particular the 2040 minimum percentages of recycled content.

By 12 February 2032, the Commission shall review the situation regarding the use of recycled packaging materials in packaging other than plastics and, on that basis, assess the appropriateness of establishing measures, or setting targets, for increasing the use of recycled content in such other packaging, and, where appropriate, present a legislative proposal.

By 12 February 2028, the Commission shall review the state of technological development and environmental performance of biobased plastic packaging, taking into consideration the sustainability criteria laid down in Article 29 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council (63).

Based on the review referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall, where appropriate, present a legislative proposal in order to:

By way of derogation from Article 6(1), by 12 February 2028, where packaging referred to in Article 3(1), point (1)(f), and sticky labels affixed to fruit and vegetables are placed on the market, that packaging and sticky labels shall be compatible with the standard for composting in industrially controlled conditions in bio-waste treatment facilities and shall be compatible, where required by the Member States, with the home-composting standards referred to in paragraph 6 of this Article.

By way of derogation from Article 6(1), where Member States allow waste with similar biodegradability and compostability properties as bio-waste pursuant to Article 22(1) of Directive 2008/98/EC to be collected together with bio-waste, and appropriate waste collection schemes and waste treatment infrastructure are available to ensure that compostable packaging enters the bio-waste management stream, Member States may require that the following packaging shall be made available on their territory for the first time only if the packaging is compostable:

By 12 February 2028, packaging other than that referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, including packaging made of biodegradable plastic polymers and other biodegradable materials, shall be designed for material recycling in accordance with Article 6 without affecting the recyclability of other waste streams.

Compliance with the requirements set out in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, of this Article shall be demonstrated in the technical information concerning the packaging referred to in Annex VII.

The Commission may analyse whether other packaging should be included in paragraph 1 or paragraph 2, point (a), of this Article if justified and appropriate due to technological and regulatory developments that affect the elimination of compostable packaging and in the conditions established in Annex III, and, where appropriate, present a legislative proposal.

By 12 February 2026, the Commission shall request the European standardisation organisations to prepare or update harmonised standards laying down the detailed technical specifications of the requirements on compostable packaging. When doing so, the Commission shall request that, in line with the latest scientific and technological developments, parameters such as retention times, temperatures and stirring, which reflect the actual conditions in home composts and in bio-waste treatment facilities, including anaerobic digestion processes, are taken into account. The Commission shall request that those standards include verification that the compostable packaging undergoing the biological decomposition subject to the specified parameters results ultimately in conversion into carbon dioxide or, in absence of oxygen, methane, and mineral salts, biomass and water.

By 1 January 2030, the manufacturer or importer shall ensure that the packaging placed on the market is designed so that its weight and volume is reduced to the minimum necessary to ensure its functionality, taking account of the shape and material from which the packaging is made.

The manufacturer or importer shall ensure that packaging which does not comply with the performance criteria set out in Annex IV of this Regulation and packaging with characteristics that aim only to increase the perceived volume of the product, including double walls, false bottoms and unnecessary layers, is not placed on the market, unless:

By 12 February 2027, the Commission shall request the European standardisation organisations to prepare or update, as appropriate, harmonised standards laying down the methodology for the calculation and measurement of compliance with the requirements concerning packaging minimisation under this Regulation. For most common packaging types and formats, such standards should specify maximum adequate weight and volume limits, and, where appropriate, wall thickness and maximum empty space.

Compliance with the requirements set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall be demonstrated in the technical documentation referred to in Annex VII, which shall contain the following elements:

Packaging placed on the market from 11 February 2025 shall be considered to be reusable where it fulfils all of the following requirements:

By 12 February 2027, the Commission shall adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 64 to supplement this Regulation by establishing a minimum number for the rotations for reusable packaging, for the purpose of paragraph 1, point (b), of this Article for the packaging formats which are most frequently used in re-use, taking into account hygiene and other requirements such as logistics.

Compliance with the requirements set out in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be demonstrated in the technical information concerning the packaging referred to in Annex VII.

From 12 August 2028 or 24 months from the date of entry into force of the implementing acts adopted pursuant to paragraphs 6 or 7 of this Article, whichever is the latest, packaging placed on the market shall be marked with a harmonised label containing information on its material composition in order to facilitate consumer sorting. The label shall be based on pictograms and be easily understandable, including for persons with disabilities. For the packaging referred to in Article 9(1) and, where applicable, packaging referred to in Article 9(2), the label shall indicate that the material is compostable, that it is not suitable for home composting and that compostable packaging is not to be discarded in nature. With the exception of e-commerce packaging, this obligation does not apply to transport packaging or to packaging that is subject to a deposit and return system.

Reusable packaging placed on the market from 12 February 2029 or 30 months from the date of entry into force of the implementing act adopted pursuant to paragraph 6, whichever is the latest, shall bear a label informing users that the packaging is reusable. Further information on reusability, including the availability of a local, national or Union-wide re-use system and information on collection points, shall be made available through a QR code or other type of standardised, open, digital data carrier that facilitates the tracking of the packaging and the calculation of trips and rotations, or, if that calculation is not feasible, an average estimation. In addition, reusable sales packaging shall be clearly identified and distinguished from single-use packaging at the point of sale.

By way of derogation from paragraph 2 of this Article, the requirement to bear a label and a QR code or other type of standardised, open, digital data carrier shall not apply to open loop systems which do not have a system operator in accordance with Annex VI.

Where packaging to which Article 7 applies is placed on the market from 12 August 2028 or 24 months from the date of entry into force of the implementing act adopted pursuant to paragraph 6 of this Article, whichever is the latest, and is marked with a label containing information on the share of recycled content, that label and, where applicable, the QR code or other type of standardised, open, digital data carrier shall comply with the specifications laid down in the relevant implementing act adopted pursuant to paragraph 6 of this Article and shall be based on the methodology established pursuant to Article 7(8). Where packaging is marked with a label containing information on the share of biobased plastic content, that label shall comply with the specifications laid down in the relevant implementing act adopted pursuant to paragraph 6 of this Article.

Labels referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 and the QR code or other type of standardised, open, digital data carrier referred to in paragraph 2 shall be affixed, printed or engraved visibly, legibly and firmly on the packaging, so that they cannot be easily erased. The information contained therein shall also be available to end users before the purchase of the product through online sales. Where such affixing, printing or engraving is not possible or not warranted on account of the nature and size of the packaging, the label, QR code or other standardised, open, digital data carrier shall be affixed to the grouped packaging. Where even that is not possible or not warranted on account of the nature and size of the packaging or where it is relevant to provide for non-discriminatory access to information for vulnerable groups, particularly visually impaired persons, the information shall be provided via a single electronically readable code or other type of data carrier.

By 12 August 2026, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts to establish a harmonised label and specifications for the labelling requirements and formats, including where provided through digital means, for the labelling of packaging referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 of this Article. When developing those implementing acts, the Commission shall take into account the specificities of composite packaging. When developing the harmonised label for packaging subject to deposit and return systems referred to in Article 50(2), the Commission shall take into consideration any variation which exists in the deposit charged by Member States. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 65(2).

By 12 August 2026, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts to establish the methodology for identifying the material composition of packaging referred to in paragraph 1 by means of standardised, open, digital-marking technologies, including for composite packaging and integrated or separate components of packaging.

Without prejudice to requirements concerning other harmonised EU labels, economic operators shall not provide or display labels, marks, symbols or inscriptions that are likely to mislead or confuse consumers or other end users with respect to the sustainability requirements for packaging, other packaging characteristics or packaging waste management options for which harmonised labelling has been laid down in this Regulation. The Commission shall, where appropriate, adopt guidelines in order to clarify aspects that are likely to mislead or confuse consumers or other end users.

By 12 February 2027, packaging included in an extended producer responsibility scheme may be identified throughout the territory of the Member States in which that scheme or system applies. Such identification shall be achieved only by means of a corresponding symbol in a QR code or other standardised, open, digital-marking technology in order to indicate that the producer fulfils its extended producer responsibility obligations. That symbol shall be clear and unambiguous and shall not mislead consumers or other end users as to the recyclability or reusability of the packaging.

Packaging covered by a deposit and return system other than that referred to in Article 50(1) may, under national law, be identified by means of a corresponding symbol throughout the territory in which that scheme or system applies. That symbol shall be clear and unambiguous and shall not mislead consumers or other end users about the packaging recyclability and reusability in the Member States where it is to be returned. Member States shall not prohibit the affixing of labels related to deposit and return systems in place in other Member States.

This Article shall not apply to immediate and outer packaging as defined in Regulations (EU) 2017/745, (EU) 2017/746 and (EU) 2019/6 and Directive 2001/83/EC, if there is no space on the packaging due to other labelling requirements as defined in those Union legislative acts or if the labelling of the packaging could jeopardise the safe use of medicinal products for human use or of veterinary medicinal products.

Packaging as referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 that is manufactured in the Union or imported before the deadlines referred in those paragraphs and that does not comply with the criteria laid down in those paragraphs may be made available on the market until 3 years from the date of entry into force of the labelling requirements laid down in those paragraphs.

By 12 August 2028 or 30 months from the adoption of the implementing acts referred to in paragraph 2, whichever is the latest, Member States shall ensure that harmonised labels that enable the separate collection of each material specific fraction of packaging waste that is intended to be discarded in separate receptacles are affixed, printed or engraved visibly, legibly and indelibly on all waste receptacles for collection of packaging waste. A receptacle for packaging waste may bear more than one label. This obligation does not apply to receptacles subject to deposit and return systems.

By 12 August 2026, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts to establish harmonised labels and specifications for the labelling requirements and formats for the labelling of the receptacles referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article. When developing those implementing acts, the Commission shall take into account the specificities of the collection systems established in the Member States as well as the specificities of composite packaging. The labelling for receptacles shall correspond to the labelling for packaging as referred to in Article 12(6) with the exception of labelling for packaging subject to deposit and return systems. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 65(2).

Manufacturers shall only place on the market packaging which is in conformity with the requirements laid down in or pursuant to Articles 5 to 12.

Before placing packaging on the market, manufacturers shall carry out the conformity assessment procedure referred to in Article 38 or have it carried out on their behalf, and shall draw up the technical documentation referred to in Annex VII.

Manufacturers shall keep the technical documentation referred to in Annex VII and the EU declaration of conformity as follows:

Manufacturers shall ensure that procedures are in place for series production of packaging to remain in conformity with this Regulation. Manufacturers shall adequately take into account changes in packaging design or in characteristics, as well as changes in harmonised standards, common technical specifications or other technical specifications by reference to which conformity is declared or by application of which its conformity is verified. Where the manufacturers find that the packaging’s conformity could be affected, they shall carry out a re-assessment in accordance with the conformity assessment procedure referred to in Article 38, or have it carried out on their behalf.

Manufacturers shall ensure that the packaging bears a type, batch or serial number or other element allowing its identification or, where the size or nature of the packaging does not so allow, that the required information is provided in a document accompanying the packaged product.

Manufacturers shall indicate on the packaging or on a QR code or another data carrier their name, registered trade name or registered trademark as well as the postal address at which and, where available, the electronic means of communication by which they can be contacted. Where that is not possible, the required information shall be provided as part of the information through the QR code or other type of standardised, open, digital data carrier as referred to in Article 12(1), (2), (4) or (5) or in a document accompanying the packaged product. The postal address shall indicate a single point at which the manufacturer can be contacted.

Manufacturers shall ensure that information provided in accordance with paragraphs 5 and 6 is clear, understandable and legible, and that it does not replace, or obscure nor can be confused with information required by other Union legal acts on the labelling of the packaged product.

Manufacturers who consider or have reason to believe that packaging which they have placed on the market from the date of entry into force of this Regulation is not in conformity with one or more of the applicable requirements laid down in or pursuant to Articles 5 to 12 shall immediately take the corrective measures necessary to bring that packaging into conformity, to withdraw it or to recall it, as appropriate. Manufacturers shall immediately inform the market surveillance authority of the Member State in which they made the packaging available of the suspected non-compliance and of the corrective measures taken.

By way of derogation from paragraph 8 of this Article, the obligation to bring into conformity, withdraw or recall packaging which is believed not to be in conformity with the requirements laid down in or pursuant to Articles 5 to 12 shall not apply to reusable packaging placed on the market before 11 February 2025.

Manufacturers shall, upon a reasoned request from a national authority, provide all the information and documentation necessary to demonstrate the conformity of the packaging with the requirements laid down in or pursuant to Articles 5 to 12, including the technical documentation, in one or more languages which can be easily understood by that authority. That information and documentation shall be provided in electronic form and, on request, in paper form. The relevant documents shall be made available within 10 days of receipt of the request from the national authority. Manufacturers shall cooperate with the national authority on any action taken to remedy any case of non-compliance with the requirements laid down in or pursuant to Articles 5 to 12.

Paragraphs 2 and 3 shall not apply to custom-made transport packaging for configurable medical devices and medical systems that are to be used in industrial and healthcare environments.

Where the natural or legal person that has the packaging designed or manufactured under its own name or trademark falls within the definition of micro-enterprise set out in Recommendation 2003/361/EC as applicable on 11 February 2025, and the natural or legal person that supplies the packaging to the natural or legal person that has the packaging designed or manufactured under its own name or trademark is located in the Union, the natural or legal person that supplies the packaging shall be considered to be the manufacturer for the purposes of this Article.

Suppliers shall provide the manufacturer with all the information and documentation necessary for the manufacturer to demonstrate the conformity of the packaging and the packaging materials with this Regulation, including the technical documentation referred to in Annex VII and required under or pursuant to Articles 5 to 11, in one or more languages which can be easily understood by the manufacturer. That information and documentation shall be provided in either paper or electronic form.

Where appropriate, the documentation and information required under Union legal acts applicable to contact-sensitive packaging shall be part of the information and documentation to be provided to the manufacturer pursuant to paragraph 1.

A manufacturer may, by a written mandate, appoint an authorised representative.

An authorised representative shall perform the tasks specified in the mandate received from the manufacturer. The mandate shall allow the authorised representative to do at least the following:

Importers shall only place on the market packaging which is in conformity with the requirements laid down in or pursuant to Articles 5 to 12.

Before placing packaging on the market, importers shall ensure that:

Importers shall indicate on the packaging their name and their registered trade name or registered trademark as well as the postal address at which and, where available, the electronic means of communication by which they can be contacted. Where it is not possible to indicate that information on the packaging, it shall be provided via standardised, open, digital data carrier as referred to in Article 12 or in a document accompanying the packaged product.

Importers shall ensure that information provided in accordance with paragraph 3 is clear, understandable and legible, and does not replace or obscure, nor can be confused with information required by other Union legal acts on the labelling of the packaged product.

Importers shall ensure that while the packaging is under their responsibility, whether empty or with a product, storage or transport conditions do not jeopardise its compliance with the applicable requirements laid down in or pursuant to Articles 5 to 12.

Importers who consider or have reason to believe that packaging which they have placed on the market is not in conformity with the applicable requirements laid down in or pursuant to Articles 5 to 12 shall immediately take the corrective measures necessary to bring that packaging into conformity, to withdraw it or to recall it, as appropriate. Importers shall immediately inform the market surveillance authorities of the Member States in which they made the packaging available of the suspected non-compliance and of the corrective measures taken.

Importers shall keep a copy of the EU declaration of conformity at the disposal of the market surveillance authorities and ensure that the technical documentation referred to in Annex VII and required under or pursuant to Articles 5 to 11 can be made available to those authorities, upon request, as follows:

Importers shall, upon a reasoned request from a national authority, provide that authority with all the information and documentation necessary to demonstrate the conformity of packaging, including technical documentation, with the applicable requirements laid down in or pursuant to Articles 5 to 12, in one or more languages which can be easily understood by that authority. That information and documentation shall be provided in electronic form and, on request, in paper form. The relevant documents shall be made available within 10 days of receipt of the request from the national authority.

Importers shall cooperate with the competent national authority on any action taken to remedy any case of non-compliance with the requirements laid down in or pursuant to Articles 5 to 12.

When making packaging available on the market, distributors shall act with due care in relation to the requirements of this Regulation.

Before making packaging available on the market, distributors shall verify that:

Where a distributor, before making packaging available on the market, considers or has reason to believe that the packaging is not in conformity with the requirements laid down in or pursuant to Articles 5 to 12 or that the manufacturer or importer is not complying with the requirements set out in Article 15(5) and (6) and Article 18(3), respectively, the distributor shall not make the packaging available on the market until it has been brought into conformity or until the manufacturer or importer complies.

Information disclosed by the producer shall not be used by the distributor for any purpose other than to verify compliance with applicable requirements laid down in or pursuant to Articles 5 to 12. In particular, the misuse of such information by distributors for commercial purposes shall be prohibited.

Distributors who consider or have reason to believe that packaging which they have made available on the market with the packaged product is not in conformity with the applicable requirements laid down in or pursuant to Articles 5 to 12 shall make sure that the necessary corrective measures are taken to bring that packaging into conformity, to withdraw it or to recall it, as appropriate.

Distributors shall, upon a reasoned request from a national authority, provide that authority with all the information and documentation to which they have access and that is relevant for demonstrating the conformity of the packaging with the applicable requirements laid down in or pursuant to Articles 5 to 12 in one or more languages which can be easily understood by that authority. That information and documentation shall be provided in electronic form and, on request, in paper form.

Economic operators shall, upon request, provide information to the market surveillance authorities on the following:

Economic operators shall be able to provide the information referred to in paragraph 1, point (a), as follows:

By 1 January 2030 or 3 years from the entry into force of the implementing acts adopted pursuant to paragraph 2, whichever is the latest, economic operators who fill grouped packaging, transport packaging or e-commerce packaging shall ensure that the maximum empty space ratio, expressed as a percentage, is 50 %.

By 12 February 2028, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts to establish the methodology for the calculation of the empty space ratio referred to in paragraph 1. That methodology shall take into account the special characteristics of packaging which needs to be placed in an empty space that is large enough to comply with applicable legal requirements or to protect the product, such as, in particular, packaged products of irregular shape, packaging containing more than one sales packaging or product, packaging containing liquid products, packaged products the content of which can easily be damaged and packaged products that can be damaged by larger products due to their small dimensions, and the minimum space on the transport packaging to enable shipment labels to be affixed.

For the purpose of the calculation of the ratio referred to in paragraph 1:

By 12 February 2028, the economic operators who fill sales packaging shall ensure that empty space is reduced to the minimum necessary for ensuring the packaging functionality, including product protection. The empty space ratio for sales packaging shall mean the difference between the total internal volume of the sales packaging and the volume of the packaged product.

Economic operators using sales packaging as e-commerce packaging or using reusable packaging within a system of re-use shall be exempt from the obligation laid down in paragraph 1 of this Article. They shall nevertheless ensure that such sales packaging complies with the requirements set out in Article 10.

By 12 February 2032, the Commission shall review the empty space ratio referred to in paragraph 1 as well as the exemptions in paragraph 5, and assess the possibility of establishing empty space ratios for sales packaging, particularly for toys, cosmetics, do-it-yourself kits and electronic products.

From 1 January 2030, economic operators shall not place on the market packaging in the formats and for the uses listed in Annex V.

By way of derogation from Article 4(2), Member States may maintain restrictions adopted before 1 January 2025 on the placing on the market of packaging in the formats and for the uses listed in Annex V but made from materials not listed in Annex V.

Paragraph 1 of this Article shall be without prejudice to Article 9(2), point (b).

By way of derogation from paragraph 1 of this Article, Member States may allow micro-enterprises as defined in Recommendation 2003/361/EC as applicable on 11 February 2025 to place on the market packaging in the formats and for the uses listed in point 3 of Annex V to this Regulation where it has been demonstrated that it is not technically feasible not to use such packaging or to obtain access to infrastructure that is necessary for the functioning of a re-use system.

By 12 February 2032, the Commission shall assess the positive environmental impact of the restrictions and derogations and exemptions from these restrictions, and shall take into account the availability of alternative packaging solutions that meet safety and hygiene requirements applicable to contact-sensitive packaging. On the basis of that assessment, the Commission shall, with the objective of reducing packaging waste, review this Article and Annex V to adapt them to technical and scientific progress. On the basis of that review, the Commission shall assess the appropriateness of establishing new restrictions on the use of specific packaging formats and the relevance of maintaining the derogations and exemptions set out in this Article, and, where appropriate, shall present a legislative proposal.

By 12 February 2027, the Commission shall publish guidelines, in consultation with Member States and the European Food Safety Authority, which explain Annex V in more detail, including examples of the packaging formats in scope, and any exemptions from the restrictions, and provide a non-exhaustive list of fruits and vegetables that are excluded from point 2 of Annex V.

Economic operators who make reusable packaging available on the territory of a Member State for the first time shall ensure that a system is in place in that Member State for the re-use of that packaging which includes an incentive to ensure the collection of that packaging and which meets the requirements laid down in Annex VI. Those economic operators shall be considered to comply with this paragraph where they make use of existing re-use systems that are already in place in the Member States.

The description of the system’s compliance with requirements pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article shall be drawn up as part of the technical documentation on reusable packaging to be provided pursuant to Article 11(3). For that purpose, the manufacturer shall request the relevant written confirmations from system participants set out in Annex VI.

Economic operators that make use of reusable packaging shall participate in one or more re-use systems and shall ensure that the re-use systems within which the reusable packaging can be re-used comply with the requirements laid down in Part A of Annex VI.

Economic operators that make use of reusable packaging shall ensure that such packaging is reconditioned in accordance with Part B of Annex VI prior to offering it again for use by end users.

Economic operators that make use of reusable packaging may appoint a third party to be responsible for one or more mutualised re-use systems.

Economic operators that make use of reusable packaging in closed loop systems in accordance with the requirements in Annex VI shall be required to return the packaging to one or more of the collection points identified by the system participants and approved by the system operator.

Economic operators who offer the possibility to purchase products through refill shall inform end users of the following (‘rules for refill’):

Economic operators who offer the possibility to purchase products through refill shall ensure that refill stations comply with the requirements laid down in Part C of Annex VI and with any requirements laid down in other Union legal acts for the sale of products through refill.

Economic operators who offer the possibility to purchase products through refill shall ensure that if packaging or containers are offered to the end users at refill stations, that packaging and those containers are not provided free of charge if they do not meet the requirements laid down in Annex VI or are provided as a part of a deposit and return system.

Economic operators may refuse to refill a container provided by the end user if the end user does not comply with the rules for refill communicated by the economic operator pursuant to paragraph 1, in particular if the economic operators consider the container to be unhygienic or unsuitable for the sale of food or drink. Economic operators shall bear no liability for hygiene or food safety issues that arise from the use of containers provided by the end user.

From 1 January 2030, final distributors with a sales area of more than 400 m2 shall endeavour to dedicate 10 % of that sales area to refill stations for both food and non-food products.

From 1 January 2030, economic operators that use transport packaging, or sales packaging used for transporting products, including for products distributed via e-commerce, within the territory of the Union, in the form of pallets, foldable-plastic boxes, boxes, trays, plastic crates, intermediate bulk containers, pails, drums and canisters of any size or material, including flexible formats or pallet wrappings or straps for stabilisation and protection of products put on pallets during transport, shall ensure that at least 40 % of such packaging in total is reusable packaging within a re-use system.

From 1 January 2030, by way of derogation from paragraph 1 of this Article, economic operators that use transport packaging or sales packaging used for transporting products, in the forms as listed in paragraph 1 of this Article, within the territory of the Union, between different sites on which the operator performs its activity, or between any of the sites on which the operator performs its activity and the sites of any other linked enterprise or partner enterprise, as defined in Article 3 of the Annex to Recommendation 2003/361/EC as applicable on 11 February 2025, shall ensure that such packaging is reusable within a re-use system.

From 1 January 2030, by way of derogation from paragraph 1, economic operators that use transport packaging or sales packaging used for transporting products, including for products distributed via e-commerce, in the forms as listed in paragraph 1, to deliver products to another economic operator within the same Member State shall ensure that such packaging is reusable within a re-use system.

The obligations set out in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 do not apply to transport packaging or sales packaging:

From 1 January 2030, economic operators that use grouped packaging in the form of boxes, excluding cardboard, outside of sales packaging to group a certain number of products to create a stock-keeping or distribution unit shall ensure that at least 10 % of such packaging is reusable packaging within a re-use system.

From 1 January 2030, final distributors that make alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in sales packaging available on the territory of a Member State to consumers shall ensure that at least 10 % of those products are made available in reusable packaging within a re-use system.

The targets laid down in paragraph 6 shall not apply to:

By 12 February 2027, the Commission, in consultation with Member States, shall publish guidelines on the types of products falling within the scope of paragraphs 6 and 7.

Final distributors as referred to in paragraph 6 shall take back, free of charge, all reusable packaging of the same type, form and size as the packaging made available on the market by them, within that specific re-use system at the point of sale, ensuring the recovery and return of such packaging through the entire distribution chain. Final distributors shall ensure that end users are able to return the packaging at the location where the actual handover of such packaging takes place or in close proximity thereto. The final distributor shall fully redeem associated deposits or notify the return of the packaging according to the governance rules of the specific re-use system in order that any associated deposits be redeemed, as the case may be.

If, in a given calendar year, a final distributor has a sales area of not more than 100 m2, that final distributor shall be exempt from the obligation to meet the targets set out in paragraph 6 in that calendar year. On the basis of the special conditions of final distribution and some manufacturing sectors, even at national level, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 64 to amend the sales area threshold.

Member States may exempt final distributors from the obligation to meet the targets set out in paragraph 6 if their sales area is located on an island with a population of less than 2 000 inhabitants.

Member States may allow final distributors to form pools for the purpose of meeting their obligations laid down in paragraph 6, provided that each pool:

Economic operators shall be exempt from the obligation to meet the targets set out in this Article for a calendar year, if during that calendar year they:

Member States may exempt economic operators for a period of 5 years from the obligations under this Article under the following conditions:

Subject to the conditions set out in Article 51, Member States may set targets for economic operators that exceed the minimum targets set out in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 of this Article to the extent that such higher targets are necessary for the Member State to achieve one or more of the targets set out in Article 43.

Subject to the conditions set out in Article 51, Member States may set targets for economic operators with regard to beverages made available in sales packaging which does not fall under paragraph 6 of this Article, if those additional targets are necessary for the Member State to achieve one or more of the targets set out in Article 43.

Targets laid down in or pursuant to this Article shall be calculated for the period of a calendar year.

In order to take account of the latest scientific and economic data and developments, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 64 to supplement this Regulation by establishing:

By 1 January 2034, taking into account the evolution of the state of the art of technology and the practical experience gained by economic operators and Member States, the Commission shall present a report reviewing the implementation of the 2030 targets set out in this Article. In that report, it shall evaluate, including from the perspective of the life-cycle assessment of single-use and re-use packaging, the following:

For the purpose of demonstrating the achievement of the targets set out in Article 29(1) and (5), the economic operator using the packaging shall calculate, for each target separately, the following:

For the purpose of demonstrating the achievement of the targets set out in Article 29(6) and Article 33, the final distributor making available such products to consumers on the territory of a Member State shall calculate, for each target separately, the following:

By 30 June 2027, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts establishing the methodology for the calculation of the re-use targets set out in Article 29.

The obligation to demonstrate the achievement of the re-use targets set out in Article 29 shall apply from 1 January 2030 or 18 months from the date of entry into force of the implementing act referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article, whichever is later.

Economic operators as referred to in Article 29(1) to (8) shall submit a report containing data concerning the achievement of the re-use targets set out in Article 29 for each calendar year to the competent authority referred to in Article 40.

The report referred to in paragraph 1 shall be submitted within 6 months from the end of the reporting year for which the data are collected.

The first reporting year shall concern the calendar year 2030.

The competent authorities shall establish electronic systems through which data shall be reported to them and specify the formats to be used.

Competent authorities may request economic operators to provide any additional information necessary to ensure the reliability of the data reported.

Member States shall make the report referred to in paragraph 1 public.

By 12 February 2027, the Commission shall establish a European observatory on re-use. The observatory shall be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the measures laid down in this Regulation, collecting data on re-use practices and contributing to the development of best practices in the field of re-use.

By 12 February 2027:

Where consumers bring their own container to be filled, final distributors as referred to in paragraph 1 shall offer them the products at no higher cost and under no less favourable conditions than when selling the sales unit consisting of the same product and single-use packaging.

By 12 February 2028, final distributors that conduct their business activity in the HORECA sector and that make available on the territory of a Member State hot or cold beverages or ready-prepared food in take-away packaging shall give consumers the option of obtaining the products in re-useable packaging within a system for re-use.

Final distributors shall inform consumers at the point of sale, through clearly visible and legible information boards or signs, about the possibility of obtaining the products in reusable packaging.

Final distributors shall offer the products filled in reusable packaging at no higher cost and under no less favourable conditions than a sales unit consisting of the same product and single-use packaging.

Final distributors shall be exempt from the application of this Article if they fall within the definition of a micro-enterprise set out in Recommendation 2003/361/EC as applicable on 11 February 2025.

From 2030, final distributors shall endeavour to offer 10 % of products for sale in a reusable packaging format.

Under the conditions set out in Article 51, Member States may set targets for economic operators that go beyond the minimum target set out in paragraph 5 of this Article to the extent that higher targets are necessary for the Member State to achieve one or more of the targets set out in Article 43.

Member States shall take measures to achieve a sustained reduction in the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags on their territory.