The Italian government has confirmed in the new Documento Programmatico di Bilancio (DPB) 2026 that the national plastic tax on single-use plastics will be suspended once again. The tax originally planned for 2020 will therefore not come into effect until 1 January 2027.
The suspension of the plastic tax will be extended until 31 December 2026. According to the government, the measure is intended to Ensuring competitiveness and price stability in the industry. The packaging, food and consumer goods industries in particular had repeatedly warned of the negative impact of the planned levy.
The tax provides for 0.45 euros per kilogramme of non-recycled plastic in disposable packaging and affects both manufacturers and importers.
Budget framework remains EU-compliant
Despite the reduction in revenue, the government is sticking to its fiscal course: the deficit is set to reach 2.8 per cent of GDP in 2026 and fall to 2.3 per cent by 2028. The measure is in line with the goal of supporting the economic upturn, without violating the EU spending rule.
Signal to industry and consumers
With the new postponement, Rome is emphasising its priority on growth and employment. Environmental levies such as the plastic tax are thus taking a back seat to economic policy measures for the time being. The government wants to introduce the tax 2027 at the earliest depending on the economic situation and European packaging regulation.
Source: Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze
