COMMISSION NOTICE Guidance document for Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and… · Lexiara

COMMISSION NOTICE Guidance document for Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste

guidance · European Union · 52026XC03084

354 provisions in 531 nodes

Defined terms · All instruments

COMMISSION NOTICE

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

Subject matter and scope of this Commission guidance document

1. Definition of packaging

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

2. Definition of a manufacturer of packaging

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

3. Definition of a producer of packaging

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

Overview of the different roles of manufacturers and producers in the PPWR

4. Definition of importer and the status of a ‘branch’

Legal provision:

Commission’s interpretation:

5. Enforcement of PFAS restrictions in food contact packaging and exhaustion of stocks

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

6. Date of application of the requirement to ensure that packaging is recyclable

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

7. Exemptions from recycled content targets

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

8. Flexibility for Member States to mandate compostable packaging and presumption of conformity

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

9. Definition of the terms ‘permeable’ and ‘soft after-use’ in the context of compostable packaging

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

10. Packaging minimisation

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

11. Relationship between the minimisation requirements in Article 10 and the empty space ratio in Article 24

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

12. Reusable packaging placed on the market prior to the application of the requirements in Article 11

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretations:

13. Scope of harmonised packaging labelling

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

14. Labelling of existing reusable transport packaging

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

15. Reporting obligations for waste management operators

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

16. Relationship between the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) and PPWR as regards packaging bans

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

17. Scope of the packaging bans in Article 25 and Annex V, points 1–4, as regards plastic content

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

18. Re-use targets for sales packaging used for transporting products

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation

19. Re-use targets for transport packaging in international trade

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

20. Responsible economic operator for the re-use targets on transport packaging

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

21. Exemptions of the custom-designed transport packaging from the re-use targets

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

22. Definition of ‘making available’ in the context of compliance with the re-use targets for beverages

Legal provisions:

Commission interpretation:

23. Re-use targets for beverages in the HORECA sector

Legal provision:

Commission’s interpretation:

24. National exemptions from the re-use targets

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

a) The possibility for a Member State to exceed all material specific recycling targets

b) Conditions regarding the exemption applying to composite packaging

c) Conditions related to waste prevention target

d) Conditions for renewal of the exemption:

25. Member States’ flexibilities to set up national measures

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

26. Flexibility for Member States to set additional recycling targets

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

27. Flexibility for Member States to set additional or higher re-use targets

Article 51 on re-use and refill states:

Commission’s interpretation:

28. National exemptions from Deposit and Return Systems (DRS)

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

29. Minimum requirements for existing Deposit and Return Systems (DRS)

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

30. Acceptance by retailers of deposit-bearing beverage container

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

31. End of life treatment of separately collected packaging which is designed for recycling

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

32. Separate collection rate of deposit-bearing packaging in 2026 and obligation to set up a DRS by 2029

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation:

33. Member States’ 90 % collection target for single-use plastic beverage bottles and metal beverage cans and the contribution of regional deposit return schemes

Legal provisions:

Commission’s interpretation: