Packaging and Labeling in European Union

Last Updated:	2008-02-20
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Introduction

The Directive is aimed at harmonizing national measures concerning the management of packaging and packaging waste. Member states may not restrict the marketing of packaging that complies with the directive. However, the directive leaves many issues unregulated and, thus, member states have wide discretion in adopting their packaging laws.

The directive imposes (1) “essential requirements” for packaging, which are to be elaborated by European standardization bodies (i.e. CEN); (2) maximum heavy metal concentration levels (currently, 100 ppm for lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium); and (3) a packaging marking system. It also requires members states to (1) adopt packaging waste prevention measures; (2) meet specific recovery and recycling targets; (3) set up collection and recovery systems; (4) set up information systems on packaging and packaging waste; and (5) ensure that consumers are informed on packaging take back.