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the making
this Statutory Instrument was published in “Iris Oifigiúil”
1st September, 2020. TABLE
CONTENTS PART 1 PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
Regulations
2014 7. Amendment to regulation 4 in the regulations
2014 8. Insertion
regulation 8A in the Regulations
2014 9. Amendment
regulation 18 in the Regulations
2014 10. Insertion
regulation 38 in the Regulations
2014 11. Insertion
regulation 39 in the Regulations
2014 12. Insertion
regulation 40 in the Regulations
2014 13. Insertion
regulation 41 in the Regulations
2014 14. Insertion
regulation 42 in the Regulations
2014 15. Amendment
Schedule 3 in the Regulations
2014 16. Amendment
Schedule 4 in the Regulations
2014 17. Insertion
Schedule 5 in the Regulations
2014 18. Insertion
Schedule 5 in the Regulations
2014 I, EAMON RYAN, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, in exercise
the powers conferred on me by section 3
the European Communities Act 1972 (No. 27
1972) and for the purpose
giving effect to Directive 94/62/EC
the European Parliament and
the Council
20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste, as amended by Directive 2004/12/EC
the European Parliament and
the Council
11 February 2004, Commission Directive 2013/2/EU
7 February 2013, Directive (EU) 2015/720
the European Parliament and
the Council
29 April 2015 and Directive 2018/851
the European Parliament and
the Council
30 May 2018, hereby make the following regulations: PART 1 PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL Citation
Regulations 3. The purposes for which these Regulations are made include the purpose
giving effect to provisions
European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC1
20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste as amended by European Parliament and Council Directive 2004/12/EC2
11 February 2004, Commission Directive 2013/2/EU3
7 February 2013, Directive (EU) 2015/7204
the European Parliament and
the Council
29 April 2015 and Directive 2018/8525
the European Parliament and
the Council
30 May 2018 with a view to promoting the recovery and recycling
packaging waste. 4. To that end, these Regulations lay down measures aimed, as a first priority, at preventing the production
packaging waste and, as additional fundamental principles, at reusing packaging, at recycling and other forms
recovering packaging waste and, therefore, at reducing the final disposal
such waste in order to contribute to the transition towards a circular economy. Commencement 5. These Regulations shall come into operation on the date
signature. Interpretation 6. In these Regulations, “Regulations
2014” refers to the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014. ( S.I. No. 282
2014 ). “The Act
1996” means the Waste Management Act 1996 (No. 10
1996). PART 3 AMENDMENTS TO REGULATIONS
2014 Amendment to regulation 4 in the regulations
2014 7. Regulation 4 in the regulations
2014 is amended as follows: (
“packaging waste”: “packaging waste” shall mean any packaging or packaging material covered by the definition
waste laid down in Section 5
the Act
1996 and Article 3
Directive 2008/98/EC, excluding production residues. (iii) by the insertion
the following: “reusable packaging” shall mean packaging which has been conceived, designed and placed on the market to accomplish within its lifecycle multiple trips or rotations by being refilled or reused for the same purpose for which it was conceived. “composite packaging” shall mean packaging made
two or more layers
different materials which cannot be separated by hand and form a single integral unit, consisting
an inner receptacle and an outer enclosure, that it is filled, stored, transported and emptied as such. The definitions
“waste”, “waste management”, “collection”, “separate collection”, “prevention”, “reuse”, “treatment”, “recovery”, “recycling”, “disposal”, and “extended producer responsibility scheme” laid down in Section 5
the Act
1996 and Article 3
Directive 2008/98/EC6 shall apply. (iv) by substituting the following for the definition
“the Directive”: “the Directive” means European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC
20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste as amended by Directive 2004/12/EC
11 February 2004 and Commission Directive 2013/2/EU
7 February 2013, Directive (EU) 2015/720
the European Parliament and
the Council
29 April 2015 and by Directive (EU) 2018/852
30 May 2018.” Insertion
regulation 8A in the Regulations
2014 8. The following is inserted after regulation 8 in the Regulations
2014. “Requirements on all producers to recover and recycle packaging waste. 8A.
packaged products or is a packer/filler shall take such steps as are necessary to ensure that, no later than 31 December 2025, a minimum
65 % by weight
all packaging waste will be recycled; And
plastic; (ii) 25 %
wood; (iii) 70 %
ferrous metals; (iv) 50 %
aluminium; (v) 70 %
glass; (vi) 75 %
paper and cardboard;
packaged products or is a packer/filler shall take such steps as are necessary to ensure that no later than 31 December 2030 a minimum
70 % by weight
all packaging waste will be recycled; And,
plastic; (ii) 30 %
wood; (iii) 80 %
ferrous metals; (iv) 60 %
aluminium; (v) 75 %
glass; (vi) 85 %
paper and cardboard. Amendment
regulation 18 in the Regulations
2014 9. Regulation 18 is amended by the replacement
sub-regulation 18
this regulation and in order to comply with Article 8 and Article 8a
Directive 2008/98/EC on waste.” Insertion
regulation 38 in the Regulations
2014 10. Regulation 38 is inserted into the Regulations
2014 after regulation 37 as follows: “Regulation 38 (Prevention): 38.
these regulations, other preventive measures are implemented in order to prevent generation
packaging waste and to minimise the environmental impact
packaging. Such other preventive measures may consist
national programmes, incentives through extended producer responsibility schemes to minimise the environmental impact
packaging, or similar actions adopted, if appropriate, in consultation with economic operators, and consumer and environmental organisations, and designed to bring together and take advantage
the many initiatives taken within Member States as regards prevention.
economic instruments and other measures to provide incentives for the application
the waste hierarchy such as those indicated in Annex IVa to Directive 2008/98/EC or other appropriate instruments and measures.” Insertion
regulation 39 in the Regulations
2014 11. Regulation 39 is inserted into the Regulations
2014 as follows: “Regulation 39 (Reuse) 39.
the Act
1996, the Minister shall take measures to encourage the increase in the share
reusable packaging placed on the market and
systems to reuse packaging in an environmentally sound manner and in conformity with the Treaty, without compromising food hygiene or the safety
consumers. Such measures may include, inter alia: (a) the use
deposit-return schemes; (b) the setting
qualitative or quantitative targets; (c) the use
economic incentives; (d) the setting up
a minimum percentage
reusable packaging placed on the market every year for each packaging stream.
the targets referred to in regulation 8A for a given year by taking into account the average share, in the preceding three years,
reusable sales packaging placed on the market for the first time and reused as part
a system to reuse packaging. The adjusted level shall be calculated by subtracting: (a) from the targets laid down in points
regulation 8A, the share
the reusable sales packaging referred to in the first subparagraph
this paragraph in all sales packaging placed on the market, and (b) from the targets laid down in points
regulation 8A, the share
the reusable sales packaging referred to in the first subparagraph
this paragraph, composed
the respective packaging material, in all sales packaging composed
that material placed on the market. No more than five percentage points
such share shall be taken into account for the calculation
the respective adjusted target level.
wooden packaging that is repaired for reuse in the calculation
the targets laid down in point
regulation 8A.” Insertion
regulation 40 in the Regulations
2014 12. Regulation 40 is inserted into the Regulations
2014 as follows: “Regulation 40 (Rules on the calculation
the attainment
the targets) 40.
calculating whether the targets laid down in regulation 8A have been attained: (a) The Agency shall calculate the weight
packaging waste generated and recycled in a given calendar year. Packaging waste generated in the State may be deemed to be equal to the amount
packaging placed on the market in the same year within the State; (b) the weight
packaging waste recycled shall be calculated as the weight
packaging that has become waste which, having undergone all necessary checking, sorting and other preliminary operations to remove waste materials that are not targeted by the subsequent reprocessing and to ensure high-quality recycling, enters the recycling operation whereby waste materials are actually reprocessed into products, materials or substances.
point (a)
paragraph 1, the weight
packaging waste recycled shall be measured when the waste enters the recycling operation. By way
derogation from the first subparagraph, the weight
the packaging waste recycled may be measured at the output
any sorting operation provided that: (
materials or substances that are removed by further operations preceding the recycling operation and are not subsequently recycled is not included in the weight
waste reported as recycled.
quality control and traceability
the packaging waste to ensure that the conditions laid down in point (a)
paragraph 1
this regulation and points (a) and (b)
paragraph 2
this regulation are met. To ensure the reliability and accuracy
the data gathered on recycled packaging waste, the system may consist
electronic registries set up pursuant to Article 35
Directive 2008/98/EC, technical specifications for the quality requirements
sorted waste, or average loss rates for sorted waste for various waste types and waste management practices respectively. Average loss rates shall only be used in cases where reliable data cannot be otherwise obtained and shall be calculated on the basis
the calculation rules established in the delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 11a
Directive 2008/98/EC.
calculating whether the targets laid down in regulation 8A have been attained, the amount
biodegradable packaging waste that enters aerobic or anaerobic treatment may be counted as recycled where that treatment generates compost, digestate, or other output with a similar quantity
recycled content in relation to input, which is to be used as a recycled product, material or substance. Where the output is used on land, it may count it as recycled only if this use results in benefits to agriculture or ecological improvement.
packaging waste materials that have ceased to be waste as a result
a preparatory operation before being reprocessed may be counted as recycled provided that such materials are destined for subsequent reprocessing into products, materials or substances to be used for the original or other purposes. However, end-
- waste materials to be used as fuels or other means to generate energy, or to be incinerated, backfilled or landfilled, shall not be counted towards the attainment
the recycling targets.
calculating whether the targets laid down in points regulation 8A have been attained, the Agency may take into account the recycling
metals separated after incineration
waste in proportion to the share
the packaging waste incinerated provided that the recycled metals meet certain quality criteria laid down in the implementing act adopted pursuant to Article 11a
Directive 2008/98/EC.
recycling in that other Member State may be counted towards the attainment
the targets laid down in regulation 8A.
the targets laid down in regulation 8A only if the requirements
paragraph 3
this regulation are met and if, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1013/20067
the European Parliament and
the Council , the exporter can prove that the shipment
waste complies with the requirements
that Regulation and that the treatment
packaging waste outside the Union took place in conditions that are broadly equivalent to the requirements
the relevant Union environmental law.” Insertion
regulation 41 in the Regulations
2014 13. Regulation 41 is inserted into the Regulations
2014 as follows: “Regulation 41 (Return, collection and recovery systems) 41.
used packaging and/or packaging waste from the consumer, other final user, or from the waste stream in order to channel it to the most appropriate waste management alternatives; (b) the reuse or recovery including recycling
the packaging and/or packaging waste collected. Those systems shall be open to the participation
the economic operators
the sectors concerned and to the participation
the competent public authorities. They shall also apply to imported products under non-discriminatory conditions, including the detailed arrangements and any tariffs imposed for access to the systems, and shall be designed so as to avoid barriers to trade or distortions
competition in conformity with the Treaty.
2024, the Minister shall ensure that extended producer responsibility schemes are established for all packaging in accordance with Articles 8 and 8a
Directive 2008/98/EC.
a policy covering all packaging and packaging waste and shall take into account, in particular, requirements regarding the protection
the environment and consumer health, safety and hygiene, the protection
the quality, the authenticity and the technical characteristics
the packed goods and materials used, and the protection
industrial and commercial property rights.
packaging waste and to meet the necessary quality standards for the relevant recycling sectors. To that end, Article 11
Directive 2008/98/EC shall apply to packaging waste, including from composite packaging.” Insertion
regulation 42 in the Regulations
2014 14. Regulation 42 is inserted into the Regulations
2014 as follows: “Regulation 42 (Information systems and reporting) 42.
points (a) to (i)
the Directive and data on reusable packaging, for each calendar year to the Commission.
the Directive and Annex III
the Directive.
Schedule 3 in the Regulations
2014 Schedule 3 is amended by replacing the title heading for Part 3 as follows: “PART 3 — Information to be provided in a three-year implementation plan [regulation 15
Schedule 4 in the Regulations
2014 Schedule 4 is amended as follows: (a) In Schedule 4.1, the second paragraph is replaced by the following: ‘Packaging shall be designed, produced and commercialised in such a way as to permit its reuse or recovery, including recycling, in line with the waste hierarchy, and to minimise its impact on the environment when packaging waste or residues from packaging waste management operations are disposed
.’; (
composting Packaging waste processed for the purpose
composting shall be
such a biodegradable nature that it does not hinder the separate collection and the composting process or activity into which it is introduced. (d) Biodegradable packaging Biodegradable packaging waste shall be
such a nature that it is capable
undergoing physical, chemical, thermal or biological decomposition such that most
the finished compost ultimately decomposes into carbon dioxide, biomass and water. Oxo-degradable plastic packaging shall not be considered as biodegradable.” 17. Insertion
Schedule 5 in the Regulations
2014 The following is inserted following Schedule 4 in the Regulations
2014 “Schedule 5 DATA TO BE INCLUDED BY MEMBER STATES IN THEIR DATABASES ON PACKAGING AND PACKAGING WASTE (IN ACCORDANCE WITH TABLES 1 TO 4) 1. For primary, secondary and tertiary packaging: (a) quantities, for each broad category
material,
packaging consumed within the country (produced + imported - exported) (Table 1); (
material, recovered and disposed
within the country (produced + imported - exported) (Table 3); (b) quantities recycled and quantities recovered for each broad category
material (Table 4). TABLE 1 Quantity
packaging (primary, secondary and tertiary) consumed within the national territory TABLE 2 Quantity
packaging (primary, secondary and tertiary) reused within the national territory TABLE 3 Quantity
packaging waste recovered and disposed
within the national territory TABLE 4 Quantity
packaging waste recycled or recovered within the national territory “ Insertion
Schedule 6 in the Regulations
2014 The following is inserted following Schedule 5 in the Regulations
2014 “Schedule 6 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TO BE SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO POINT (D)
ARTICLE 6(1A)
THE DIRECTIVE The implementation plan to be submitted pursuant to point (d)
the Directive shall contain the following: 1. assessment
the past, current and projected rates
recycling, landfilling and other treatment
packaging waste and the streams
which it is composed; 2. assessment
the implementation
waste management plans and waste prevention programmes in place pursuant to Articles 28 and 29
Directive 2008/98/EC; 3. reasons for which the Member State considers that it might not be able to attain the relevant target laid down in points (g) and (i)
the time extension necessary to meet that target; 4. measures necessary to attain the targets set out in points (g) and (i)
this Directive that are applicable to the Member State during the time extension, including appropriate economic instruments and other measures to provide incentives for the application
the waste hierarchy as set out in Article 4
, and Annex IVa to, Directive 2008/98/EC; 5. a timetable for the implementation
the measures identified in point 4, determination
the body competent for their implementation and an assessment
their individual contribution to attaining the targets applicable in the event
a time extension;
ficial Seal, 27 August 2020. EAMON RYAN Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part
the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.) The purposes for which these Regulations are made include the purpose
giving effect to provisions
European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC
20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste as amended by European Parliament and Council Directive 2004/12/EC
11 February 2004, Commission Directive 2013/2/EU
7 February 2013, Directive (EU) 2015/720
the European Parliament and
the Council
29 April 2015 and Directive 2018/851
the European Parliament and
the Council
30 May 2018 with a view to promoting the recovery and recycling
packaging waste. The Regulations lay down measures aimed, as a first priority, at preventing the production
packaging waste and, as additional fundamental principles, at reusing packaging, at recycling and other forms
recovering packaging waste and, therefore, at reducing the final disposal
such waste in order to contribute to the transition towards a circular economy. Earlier iterations
the Packaging Directive have been primarily transposed by the Waste Management Act 1996 and by the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014. ( S.I. No. 282
2014 ). Therefore, these Regulations primarily consist
amendments to these two pieces
legislation. The following table indicates how the Packaging Directive is transposed-and notes where aspects which are the responsibility
the Commission are not transposed. Article
Directive 2018/850/Amendments to Directive 94/62/EC Transposed by Regulation No: Article 1 - Purpose 3 - Purpose
Regulations Article 3 - Definitions 7 – Amending Regulation 4 in Regulations
2014. Article 4 – Prevention measures 10 – Insertion
new Regulation 38 (Prevention) into regulations
2014 Article 5 - Reuse 11 – Insertion
new Regulation 39 (Reuse) into regulations
2014 Article 6 – Recovery and recycling 8 – insertion
Regulation 8A (Requirements on all producers to recover and recycle packaging waste) into the Regulations
2014 Article 6a – Rules on the calculation
the attainment
the targets 12 – insertion
new regulation 40 (Rules on the calculation
the attainment
the targets) into the Regulations
2014 Article 6b- Early warning report Commission competence – not transposed. Article 7 - Return, collection and recovery systems 13 – Insertion
Regulation 41 (Return, collection and recovery systems) into the Regulations
2014 Article 9 - Essential requirements Commission competence – not transposed. Article 11 - Concentration levels
heavy metals present in packaging Commission competence – not transposed Article 12 - Information systems and reporting 14 – Insertion
Regulation 42 (Information systems and reporting) into the Regulations
2014 Article 17 – Obligation to report (deletion) No change required. Article 19- Adaptation to scientific and technical progress Commission competence – not transposed Article 20 -Specific measures Commission competence – not transposed Article 21- Committee procedure Commission competence – not transposed Article 21a -Exercise
the delegation Commission competence – not transposed Annex II 16 - Amendment to Schedule 4
2014 Annex III 17 -Insertion
Schedule 5 into the Regulations
2014 Annex IV 18 -Insertion
Schedule 6 into the Regulations
2014 1 OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 10 2 OJ L 47, 18.2.2004, p. 26 3 OJ L 37, 8.2.2013, p. 10 4 OJ L 115, 6.5.2015, p. 11 5 OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 141 6 OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3 7 OJ L 190, 12.7.2006, p. Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government
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