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DRAFT OPINION (COM(2022)0677 – C90400/2022 – 2022/0396(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on packaging and packaging waste, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904, and repealing Directive 94/62/EC

AGRI-PA-745499

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: Salvatore De Meo

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The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development's draft opinion responds to the proposed regulation on packaging and packaging waste. It supports the regulation's sustainability aims but asks for specific attention to agri-food products, whose packaging preserves quality and limits waste. The draft proposes amendments to recitals and articles, including safeguards for food contact packaging, flexibility on recycled content and reuse targets, and exemptions for farms and small operators. It calls for chemical recycling to complement mechanical recycling, for reuse targets to consider water scarcity, and for food safety and organoleptic properties not to be compromised.

Committee position. The committee supports the regulation's objectives but calls for specific attention to the agri-food sector. It proposes amendments to safeguard food quality and safety, ensure flexibility on recycled content and reuse targets, and exempt farms and small operators.

Key points

  1. The committee supports the regulation's objectives but says agri-food, especially fruit and vegetables, needs specific attention to avoid negative impacts on the supply chain and products.
  2. It stresses that packaging preserves food quality, extends shelf life and limits waste, and that EU rules on food contact materials must not be adversely affected.
  3. It asks that recyclable plastic content targets not jeopardise food quality, and that chemical recycling be considered a complementary method to mechanical recycling.
  4. It warns that reuse targets require large amounts of energy and water, and says member states should adapt production models to water availability.
  5. It proposes that recycled content targets be calculated as an average of plastic packaging placed on the Union market, and not apply to food or feed contact packaging where health or organoleptic properties are at risk.
  6. It proposes exemptions from recyclability requirements for contact-sensitive medical device packaging and packaging for food for special medical purposes and vulnerable groups such as infants and young children.
  7. It proposes that compostable packaging requirements apply only where they do not affect compost quality or pose contamination risks.
  8. It proposes that packaging minimisation rules not compromise food safety, organoleptic properties, intellectual property rights or geographical indications.
  9. It proposes that reusable packaging rules ensure food quality and hygiene, and that member states keep flexibility due to water needs.
  10. It proposes that single-use packaging for food and beverages in the HORECA sector be limited to products whose organoleptic properties cannot be preserved through reuse and refill.
  11. It proposes exemptions from reuse targets for small operators, farms and agricultural businesses selling directly at farmers' markets.
  12. It proposes that deposit and return systems not apply to wine, aromatised wine, spirit drinks and milk and milk products, and adds olive oil and food for special medical purposes to the exemption list.

Who is affected

  • Agri-food businesses, especially fruit and vegetable producers, whose packaging must preserve quality and limit waste.
  • Farms and agricultural businesses selling directly at farmers' markets, proposed for exemptions from reuse targets.
  • Food and feed contact packaging producers, proposed to be exempt from recycled content targets where health or organoleptic properties are at risk.
  • Small and micro companies, proposed for exemptions from reuse targets and packaging restrictions.
  • Producers of wine, aromatised wine, spirit drinks, milk and milk products, olive oil, and food for special medical purposes, proposed to be exempt from deposit and return systems.

Figures and deadlines

  • 88 million tonnes of food waste generated in the EU each year.
  • over 50% of food waste comes from households and the consumer level.
  • From 1 January 2030, plastic packaging must contain minimum recycled content: 30% for contact sensitive PET packaging.
  • From 1 January 2030, 10% recycled content for contact sensitive plastic packaging other than PET, except single use plastic beverage bottles.
  • From 1 January 2040, plastic packaging must contain minimum recycled content.
  • By 31 December 2026, the Commission is empowered to adopt implementing acts on recycled content calculation.
  • By 31 December 2035, the Commission shall assess the need for derogations from recycled content targets.
  • From 1 January 2030, 90% of large household appliances must be made available in reusable transport packaging.