Laws and Regulations

Directive on packaging

Annex II of Directive 94/62/EC contains the “essential requirements on the composition and the reusable and recoverable nature of packaging”. With the Italian Decree of the Minister of the Environment of 2 May 2006, the reference numbers of the national technical standards adopting the harmonised European standards concerning the essential requirements of Annex II of Directive 94/62/EC were published: UNI EN 13427:2005, UNI EN 13428:2005, UNI EN 13429:2005, UNI EN 13430:2005, UNI EN 13431:2005, UNI EN 13432:2002.

On extraordinary and urgent environmental measures

Article 2 deals with “Provisions on the marketing of environmentally friendly carrier bags”. More specifically, it prohibits the marketing of single-use plastic bags, with the exception of those “made of polymers complying with the harmonised UNI EN 13432:2002 standard, in accordance with certifications issued by accredited bodies”, setting precise size limits and intended use. Bags made of polymers that do not comply with the harmonised standard UNI EN 13432:2002 must contain a percentage of recycled plastic of at least ten per cent and 30 per cent for those intended for food use. The action of marketing bags that do not comply with the requirements of the above-mentioned article results in an administrative fine ranging from € 2,500 to € 25,000, increased by up to four times the maximum if the ban is violated with regard to large quantities of carrier bags or if the value of the goods exceeds 20% of the offender’s turnover.

Directive on shopping bags amending Directive on packaging

It amends the Directive on packaging (94/62/EC) on a number of points to encourage a reduction in the use of lightweight (below 50 microns) and ultra-lightweight (below 15 microns) plastic carrier bags by including biodegradable and compostable plastic carrier bags as an option.

Article 4 of said law delegates the government to adopt the Directive on shopping bags 2015/720.

On the modalities for the implementation of the limitation of single-use plastic bags. The text of the law contains, among other things, a chapter on strategies to contain the consumption of single-use plastic bags.

Shopping bags of compostable and biodegradable thermoplastic flexible film for the transport of retail goods – Types, requirements and test methods.

Compostable and biodegradables bags for urban solid waste collection – Types, requirements and test methods.

Polyethylene shopping bags for the transport of retail goods – Types, requirements and test methods.

Requirements for the use of European Standards in the field of packaging and packaging waste.

Requirements specific to manufacturing and composition – Prevention by source reduction

Reuse

Requirements for packaging recoverable by material recycling

Requirements for packaging recoverable in the form of energy recovery, including specification of minimum inferior calorific value

Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation – Test scheme and evaluation criteria for the final acceptance of packaging