{"id":82906,"date":"2023-07-12T10:51:24","date_gmt":"2023-07-12T08:51:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/?p=82906"},"modified":"2025-05-22T13:17:19","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T11:17:19","slug":"associations-criticise-amendment-to-packaging-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/verbaende-kritik-novelle-verpackungsgesetz\/","title":{"rendered":"Associations criticise planned amendment to the Packaging Act"},"content":{"rendered":"
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With the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, it is not only the EU that is planning a number of changes that will affect the packaging industry. The Federal Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection is also planning to amend the Packaging Act. Associations in the food chain are now criticising the possible changes.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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With this law, the ministry intends to Avoid packaging and promote reusable packaging in particular<\/strong>. For the manufacturers and distributors of packaging, this harbours further risks in addition to the already subdued general economic situation and an inflation-related decline in demand. unassessable risks for Germany as a business location<\/strong>. There are also construction and logistical tasks to be solved for the retail, catering and trade sectors.<\/p>

The paper processing trade associations (WPV), German Food Association<\/a>, Industrial Association for Paper and Film Packaging<\/a> e.V. (IPV), PRO-S-PACK<\/a> Working Group for Service Packaging, The Paper Industry (DPI), Federal Association of System Catering<\/a> (BdS), Folding Carton Industry Association<\/a> (FFI), Association solid board cartons<\/a> (VVK) and Association of the Corrugated Board Industry<\/a> (VDW) is therefore calling for a stop to national unilateral action in packaging law.<\/p>

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\u201eWe are currently in negotiations at European level for a general European regulation on the revision of the EU Packaging Directive (PPWD), which also addresses the issues of the German amendment now presented by the Federal Ministry for the Environment. The legislative process for the Packaging Ordinance (PPWR), which is to apply equally in all European countries from 2025, has not yet been finalised. If Germany goes it alone now, it will place additional burdens on companies throughout the supply chain and further restrict their competitiveness. In our view, this amendment is symbolic policy. It will result in neither environmental nor economic benefits.\u201c<\/p>

Dr Sieglinde St\u00e4hle<\/strong> from the food association<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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She reminds us that new regulations on the obligation to offer reusable packaging have only just come into force. The implementation of these regulations is still stuck, partly because there are still many unanswered questions for the Federal Ministry for the Environment and the Federal Environment Agency regarding the Conflicting objectives between packaging law and consumer protection or food hygiene<\/strong> concerns.<\/p>

\u201eAll forces are currently needed and are being pooled to amend the PPWR. The Ministry's initiative comes at an inopportune time. Making regulations now that could be revoked in a year and a half by standardised European legislation harbours the risk of a policy that is hasty and short-term in its effect on the outside and creates enormous uncertainty and additional burdens within the industry.\u201c<\/p>

Karsten Hunger<\/strong>, Managing Director of the IPV<\/p><\/blockquote>

The industry has been working very actively for years on the Reduction of packaging materials and their successful recycling<\/strong>. The alliance of associations emphasises that the EU internal market must be seen as a unit; going it alone is not what makes a European economy strong.<\/p>