Source: European Parliament
The Impact Assessment[1] of the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation[2] examined the economic impacts, also in quantitative terms, on businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) . This assessment was done for the whole package of measures but also for specific measures, such as reuse targets. I t concluded that, overall, the new rules do not result in increased compliance costs for businesses. W here however, significant administrative burden was anticipated, mitigation measures were introduced , such as exemptions for small businesses or reduced requirements. Micro-enterprises were exempted from many requirements and granted alleviations[3].
The Commission will develop implementing legislation with a specific focus to prevent that SMEs face disproportionate administrative burden. Furthermore, it will consider coming up with guidance to help SMEs comply with the new rules. More generally, one of the key criteria for this implementing legislation will be the competitiveness of the EU businesses, in line with recent Commission communications[4].
The Commission anticipates big efficiency gains as regards the enforcement of the reuse targets, also due to digitalisation[5]. Moreover, Member States have several possibilities to exempt operators from the reuse targets, subject to the local conditions. These measures ensure a proportionate implementation of the reuse targets established in the regulation.
- [1] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/document/download/920f946e-4e98-4de5-b1e5-c948a81a10f5_en.
- [2] Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 on packaging and packaging waste, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904, and repealing Directive 94/62/EC, OJ L, 2025/40, 22.1.2025.
- [3] For instance, as regards reporting to the producer responsibility organisations.
- [4] https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-making-process/better-regulation/simplification-and-implementation_en.
- [5] The regulation has established digital labels for reusable packaging, which would allow tracking of the rotations of the reusable packaging; digital tracking of the achieved rotations of the reusable packaging can facilitate demonstration of compliance of the economic operators with the new Regulation. This can ensure lower administrative costs, especially for small companies.