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Packaging is subject to increasingly stringent environmental regulations around the world. These range from Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations in Europe through to co-regulatory approaches in Australia and New Zealand, and product bans in some cities in China. Recent developments include:
- Approval by environment ministers to extend the National Packaging Covenant in Australia for another 5 years, but with the introduction of ambitious recycling targets (July 2005);
- Amendments to the German Ordinance on the Avoidance of Packaging Waste which impose mandatory deposits on ‘non ecologically advantageous packaging’ and allow retailers to restrict the types of packaging they sell (May 2005);
- The introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility legislation in the Netherlands to replace the packaging covenant which expired at the end of 2005;
- Signing of an Accord between the packaging supply chain, central and local governments in New Zealand, including sectoral plans and targets (July 2004); and
- Amendments to the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive with new recycling targets for 2008 (Feb 2004).
SPA can provide organisations with advice on the latest packaging regulations through two services:
- An overview of packaging regulations can be purchased from SPA for $80 (updated regularly); or
- We can undertake research on specific topics relating to environmental policy and regulations on a fee-for-service basis.
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