European Commission: There are no provisions in national legislation in Romania that encourage the use of sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic for food

The European Commission is requesting Romania to correctly transpose the Single-Use Plastics Directive. By a letter of formal notice sent in the first half of February (INFR(2024)2266 – preamble to the infringement), the European Commission decided to launch infringement proceedings for failing to correctly transpose the Single-Use Plastics Directive (Directive (EU) 2019/904). The Directive is a key element of the Plastics Strategy and the Circular Economy Action Plan.

“The full implementation of the sustainable practices enshrined in the Directive is essential to effectively protect human health, natural environments and ensure a successful transition to a more sustainable circular economy. Romania has not correctly and completely transposed several provisions of the Single-Use Plastics Directive into national law, which may lead to incomplete application of the Directive in practice. For example, Romanian legislation extends the derogations from the ban on the placing on the market of single-use plastic products. This concerns, for example, drink stirrers and single-use plastic chopsticks used for medical purposes.

In addition, Romanian legislation does not require producers to cover all costs in accordance with the provisions of the Extended Producer Responsibility Directive. Finally, there are no provisions in national legislation that would encourage the use of sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic for food,” the document submitted by the Commission states. The Commission is therefore sending a letter of formal notice to Romania, which now has two months to respond and remedy the shortcomings reported.

In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion. Single-use plastic packaging, but also other categories of packaging addressed in the European Regulation on packaging and packaging waste PPWR -The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation- will be discussed in detail at the Ambalaje 360 ​​– Packaging New Generation conference – which Piața is organising on 3 April at Biavati Events in Bucharest.

Find out more here: Packaging New Generation

The causes that have maintained the trade in single-use plastic packaging and products, such as cutlery or plastic straws for fast food or takeaway food services, will be addressed, as well as other topics of interest to manufacturers and retailers in view of the entry into force of the regulation in July of next year.

Topics that will be addressed during the debates:

• By what levers will the Government and the Ministry of Environment achieve the country’s PPWR objectives
• What solutions do companies have to achieve the objectives Challenges for packaging collectors in achieving these objectives Solutions proposed by recyclers for packaging circularity
• Who is keeping up with the pace in Recycling Hour Ecodesign – between marketing needs and operational efficiency
• The future of packaging and its relationship with consumers
• Packaging reuse and infrastructure challenges
• What will store shelves look like in July 2026. 

Reservations for a seat at the event here