d1e1437-1-1__para__2

The Commission Decision 97/ 129 of 28 January 1997 establishing the identification system for packaging materials (25), which sets up a system of numbering and abbreviations to identify the material composition of packaging mainly aimed at waste managers to help them sort packaging waste, still applies until 12 August 2028. The use of this decision and of the system of abbreviations that it sets up is voluntary for manufacturers, but Member States are obliged to ensure that no other system to identify packaging materials than the one defined in the Decision is used. In other words, where an identification system is used, then it must be the one defined in the Decision. However, the use of the abbreviations as established under the Decision will be no longer allowed after 12 August 2028. This is because technological advances in separation of waste after collection are reducing the necessity for such markings for recyclers and to ensure harmonised labelling across the Single Market.

← d1e1437-1-1__para · All articles · d1e1437-1-1__para__3 →

Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-09-07 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.