Today, MEPs from the Environment Committee adopted the report by Frédérique Ries (Renew, BE) on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. This report, which was supposed to provide some mitigations to the Commission’s proposal, still leaves certain farming sectors in total limbo.
Copa and Cogeca welcome a notable reprieve for the wine sector, that MEPs voted to exclude from reuse targets. We also acknowledge the efforts to safeguard free movement and realistic targets for minimum recycled content in plastic packaging.
Copa and Cogeca acknowledge improvements on the restrictions on packaging formats, insofar as the dairy, olive oil and fruit and vegetables sectors are concerned as compared to the Commission Proposal. Still, without workable alternatives to address these important concerns on food waste and food safety, especially given the lack of evidence that such measures would be beneficial for the environment, we cannot support continued restrictions of single-use packaging for the fruit and vegetables sector and regret that such restrictions remain following today’s vote, albeit in a less extreme form. This view was clearly shared by many ENVI MEPs in today’s vote, as the compromise amendment for this provision passed with a very tight majority.
We also regret the inclusion of the spirits sector in reuse targets, and for flowers and ornamental plants, the wording of Annex I remains unsatisfactory as it makes arbitrary distinctions between packaging and non-packaging.
As the Plenary approaches, it is essential that MEPs take into consideration the perspectives of farmers and agri-cooperatives, as well as the Opinions of ITRE and AGRI Committees which were adopted in July. European farmers and agri-cooperative need an enabling regulatory environment that facilitates their transition to a circular economy regarding packaging and packaging waste, not arbitrary restrictions.
Fonte: Copa Cogeca
