June 15, 2026 12:41

A step forward, though not the final one, towards the operational implementation of the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) came on 10 June with the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union of a guidance document containing interpretations and clarifications, supplemented by an FAQ section with questions and answers.

This is the final version of the document issued at the end of March (read article), for purely “interpretive” purposes, and does not replace, add to or amend the original text.

The guidance document clarifies certain definitions, such as packaging, and the different operators covered by the regulation - manufacturer, producer and importer - and addresses unclear aspects including PFAS restrictions, which will enter into force on 12 August for food-contact packaging, as well as recyclability and recycled content, labelling, reuse and deposit return systems.

The new Packaging Regulation entered into force on 11 February 2025, with general application set for 12 August. Other, more substantive obligations will apply over the coming years, once the delegated and implementing acts have been defined.

See also: Guidance document for Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste

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