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🇩🇪 Germany /Elections & Politics

Dispute over EU packaging rules: Green lawmaker calls for a waiver of fines

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources New plan
  • Green European lawmaker Erik Marquardt called for EU countries to refrain from imposing fines before February 2027 for breaches of new packaging rules.
  • The rules require businesses selling goods in several member states to register separately in each country and appoint an authorized representative.
  • Small retailers have complained about the bureaucracy, while the European Commission has proposed suspending the representative requirement for European manufacturers.

European lawmaker Erik Marquardt is calling for a Europe-wide agreement not to impose fines until February as companies adjust to the EU's new packaging rules. He said the German government should support such a declaration and make clear that Germany has already adopted this approach.

"The long-term goals of the packaging regulation, less packaging waste, recycling systems, deposit-return systems across Europe and so on, are right," Marquardt told the German Press Agency. But he said the rules must be practical and must not overwhelm businesses with bureaucracy. "The current bureaucracy in the regulation is poison and rubbish for small businesses. That has to change."

There should be a joint statement at European level that no country will impose sanctions for violations until February.

· Erik MarquardtThe Green European lawmaker called for a temporary EU-wide suspension of fines.

German law states that no fines will be imposed until February 12, 2027, even if companies breach the new requirements. That gives businesses several months to make the transition. The rules have applied across the EU since August 12.

The long-term goals of the packaging regulation, less packaging waste, recycling systems, deposit-return systems across Europe and so on, are right.

· Erik MarquardtMarquardt said he supported the regulation's objectives while criticizing its implementation.

Companies selling goods in several member states must register separately in each country and appoint an authorized representative. Several small retailers have complained on social media and said they would ship to fewer countries in the future.

The European Commission proposed in December, before the regulation took effect, suspending the authorized-representative requirement for European manufacturers. The European Parliament and member states still need to approve that proposal. EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall said in August that she hoped there would be no further delay and that national authorities should refrain from sanctioning companies in the meantime.

The current bureaucracy in the regulation is poison and rubbish for small businesses. That has to change.

· Erik MarquardtHe criticized the administrative burden placed on small retailers.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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