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Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive In force Unlisted

Overview

Jurisdiction
European Union
Topic
-
Instrument type
Directive
Reference number
94/62/EC
Valid from
1994-12-31
Valid to
2026-08-12
Modified date
2026-08-06
Listed at
Unlisted draft
Withdrawn at
-
Description
Harmonizes measures for the prevention, reuse, return, collection, recovery and recycling of packaging and packaging waste, and establishes requirements for packaging composition and marking.

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Sources

No regulation sources yet.

Rule sets

Label Effective
Packaging placed on the Community market – essential requirements 1997-12-31 — 9999-12-31
Applies from milestone:
Application Start (1997-12-31)
Expires at milestone:
-
Conditions:
  • Products contains No Linked Attribute Value “packaging placed on the market in the Community”
Packaging – 600 ppm heavy-metal limit 1998-06-30 — 1999-06-29
Applies from milestone:
Application Start (1998-06-30)
Expires at milestone:
-
Conditions:
  • Products contains No Linked Attribute Value “packaging placed on the market in the Community”
Packaging – 250 ppm heavy-metal limit 1999-06-30 — 2001-06-29
Applies from milestone:
Application Start (1999-06-30)
Expires at milestone:
-
Conditions:
  • Products contains No Linked Attribute Value “packaging placed on the market in the Community”
Packaging – 100 ppm heavy-metal limit 2001-06-30 — 9999-12-31
Applies from milestone:
Application Start (2001-06-30)
Expires at milestone:
-
Conditions:
  • Products contains No Linked Attribute Value “packaging placed on the market in the Community”
Packaging requiring identification marking 9999-01-01 — 9999-12-31
Conditions:
  • Products contains No Linked Attribute Value “packaging placed on the market in the Community”

Questions this regulation asks

Attributes only this regulation asks about — criteria no general attribute expresses. A company answers each once.

This regulation asks no questions of its own — every condition uses a general attribute.

Obligations

Title Kind Rule set
Minimize packaging volume and weight Governance -
Description:
Packaging must be manufactured so that its volume and weight are limited to the minimum adequate amount needed to maintain the necessary level of safety, hygiene and acceptance.
Frequency:
Continuous
Check frequency:
-
Products/Services:
Packaging placed on the market in the Community
Checking responsibility:
-
Check method:
-
Rule set:
-
Source reference:
Annex II, section 1, first indent
Source excerpt:
Packaging shall be so manufactured that the packaging volume and weight be limited to the minimum adequate amount to maintain the necessary level of safety, hygiene and acceptance for the packed product and for the consumer.
Design for reuse and recovery Governance -
Description:
Packaging must be designed, produced and commercialized to permit reuse or recovery, including recycling, and to minimize its environmental impact when packaging waste or residues are disposed of.
Frequency:
Continuous
Check frequency:
-
Products/Services:
Packaging placed on the market in the Community
Checking responsibility:
-
Check method:
-
Rule set:
-
Source reference:
Annex II, section 1, second indent
Source excerpt:
Packaging shall be designed, produced and commercialized in such a way as to permit its reuse or recovery, including recycling, and to minimize its impact on the environment when packaging waste or residues from packaging waste management operations are disposed of.
Minimize hazardous substances Due Diligence -
Description:
The presence of noxious and other hazardous substances and materials as constituents of packaging must be minimized.
Frequency:
Continuous
Check frequency:
-
Products/Services:
Packaging and packaging components
Checking responsibility:
-
Check method:
-
Rule set:
-
Source reference:
Annex II, section 1, third indent
Source excerpt:
Packaging shall be so manufactured that the presence of noxious and other hazardous substances and materials as constituents of the packaging material or of any of the packaging components is minimized with regard to their presence in emissions, ash or leachate when packaging or residues from management operations or packaging waste are incinerated or landfilled.
Mark packaging material Record Keeping -
Description:
Packaging must bear identification and classification marking for the packaging material used; the marking must be clearly visible, easily legible, durable and lasting.
Frequency:
Continuous
Check frequency:
-
Products/Services:
Packaging placed on the market in the Community
Checking responsibility:
-
Check method:
-
Rule set:
-
Source reference:
Article 8(2)
Source excerpt:
Packaging shall indicate for purposes of its identification and classification by the industry concerned the nature of the packaging material(s) used.
Ensure visible and durable marking Record Keeping -
Description:
Packaging must bear the appropriate marking on the packaging itself or on the label, clearly visible, easily legible, durable and lasting, including when the packaging is opened.
Frequency:
Continuous
Check frequency:
-
Products/Services:
Packaging placed on the market in the Community
Checking responsibility:
-
Check method:
-
Rule set:
-
Source reference:
Article 8(3)
Source excerpt:
Packaging shall bear the appropriate marking either on the packaging itself or on the label. It shall be clearly visible and easily legible. The marking shall be appropriately durable and lasting, including when the packaging is opened.
Heavy metal concentration limits Due Diligence -
Description:
The combined concentration of lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium must not exceed the applicable weight limit: 600 ppm from 30 June 1998, 250 ppm from 30 June 1999 and 100 ppm from 30 June 2001.
Frequency:
Continuous
Check frequency:
-
Products/Services:
Packaging and packaging components, excluding packaging entirely made of lead crystal glass under Directive 69/493/EEC
Checking responsibility:
-
Check method:
-
Rule set:
-
Source reference:
Article 11(1)
Source excerpt:
Member States shall ensure that the sum of concentration levels of lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium present in packaging or packaging components shall not exceed the following:
Provide reliable packaging data Reporting -
Description:
Reliable data on the company's sector must be provided to the competent authorities as required under the information-system provisions.
Frequency:
Event-triggered
Check frequency:
-
Products/Services:
Economic operators involved in the production, use, import or distribution of packaging or packaged products
Checking responsibility:
-
Check method:
-
Rule set:
-
Source reference:
Article 12(6)
Source excerpt:
Member States shall require all economic operators involved to provide competent authorities with reliable data on their sector as required in this Article.

Measures

No measures.

Penalties

No penalties.

Milestones

Date Type Description
1994-12-20 Adopted Adoption of the Directive
Source reference:
Final paragraph
Source excerpt:
Done at Brussels, 20 December 1994.
1994-12-31 Entry into Force Entry into force on the day of publication
Source reference:
Article 24
Source excerpt:
This Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
1996-06-30 Transposition Deadline Deadline for implementation in national law
Source reference:
Article 22(1)
Source excerpt:
Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive before 30 June 1996.
1996-06-30 Repeal Repeal of Directive 85/339/EEC
Source reference:
Article 23
Source excerpt:
Directive 85/339/EEC is hereby repealed with effect from the date referred to in Article 22 (1).
1997-12-31 Application Start Start of the obligation to comply with essential packaging requirements
Source reference:
Article 9(1)
Source excerpt:
Member States shall ensure that three years from the date of the entry into force of this Directive, packaging may be placed on the market only if it complies with all essential requirements defined by this Directive including Annex II.
1998-06-30 Application Start First concentration limit stage for heavy metals
Source reference:
Article 11(1)
Source excerpt:
600 ppm by weight two years after the date referred to in Article 22 (i);
1999-06-30 Application Start Second concentration limit stage for heavy metals
Source reference:
Article 11(1)
Source excerpt:
250 ppm by weight three years after the date referred to in Article 22 (i);
1999-12-31 Other End of the transitional period for packaging manufactured before entry into force
Source reference:
Article 22(5)
Source excerpt:
Member States shall, for a period not exceeding five years from the date of the entry into force of the present Directive, allow the placing on the market of packaging manufactured before this date and which is in conformity with their existing national law.
2001-06-30 Application Start Third concentration limit stage for heavy metals
Source reference:
Article 11(1)
Source excerpt:
100 ppm by weight five years after the date referred to in Article 22 (i).

Linked regulations

Type Regulation
Repeals Directive 85/339/EEC
Cites Council Directive 91/689/EEC
Cites Directive 75/442/EEC
Cites Directive 83/189/EEC
Cites Directive 69/493/EEC
Cites Directive 75/442/EEC
Cites Directive 83/189/EEC
Cites Council Directive 91/692/EEC