The ordinance prohibiting the marketing of certain single-use plastic products was adopted by the Government, but the implementing rules are still awaited
At the proposal of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests, the Executive approved last week the Ordinance that prohibits the marketing of certain single-use plastic products. The Minister of the Environment, Tanczos Barna, stated that the application rules are to be made, with rules for producers. He says the amount of plastic products that will be removed from the market cannot be estimated. However, it mentions that the stocks will be gradually depleted, and these products will be replaced by those made from biodegradable materials. Barna also pointed out that stores can run out of stock. But they can no longer put new quantities of single-use plastic products on the market.
Until stocks last
"The single-use plastic directive was transposed into legislation through an Ordinance that also introduces in Romania the obligations to reduce plastic from nature", declared the Minister of the Environment. He stated that the application rules are to be made, with rules for manufacturers. Asked what the economic operators who still have such products in stock will do, the Minister of the Environment said that they can exhaust their stocks, but they can no longer put new quantities on the market, but must gradually replace them with biodegradable products. "Stocks can be exhausted, new quantities can no longer be put on the market. No new quantities can leave the factories in Romania, they cannot be imported. The stocks that are on the market today will gradually run out and will gradually be replaced by ecological products", said Barna Tanczos. See the text here ORDINANCE
Single-use plastic products can be sold on non-EU markets
The Ordinance regulates the placing on the market of these products, and does not refer to the production of single-use plastic products. This will still be allowed if the products will be used in markets outside the European Union.
List of plastic products prohibited by the Ordinance
From the entry into force of the emergency ordinance, the following single-use plastic products and the following products made from oxo-degradable plastic materials are prohibited from being placed on the market:
• Ear sticks
• Cutlery – forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks
• Plates
• Drinking straws
• Drink stirrers
• Sticks attaching to or supporting balloons, except balloons for industrial or other professional uses and applications, not distributed to consumers, including the mechanisms of such sticks
• Food containers, made of expanded polystyrene, such as cans with or without lids, used to contain food products that:
(a) are intended for immediate consumption, either on the spot or as a package;
(b) are usually consumed from the container;
(c) are ready for consumption without requiring further preparation such as cooking, boiling or heating, including food containers used for fast food menus or other ready-to-eat menus, excluding drink containers, plates, packages and flexible material films containing food products
• Beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene, including their caps and lids
• Drink glasses made of expanded polystyrene, including their lids.
Exceptions are the following plastic products that are used in the medical field: ear sticks, drink stirrers, disposable plastic straws; single-use plastic sticks used by a forensic or scientific (diagnostic, educational or research) purpose.
Progressive reduction of quantities for plastic cups and boxes
According to the emergency ordinance, for certain single-use plastic products, economic operators who introduce them to the national market are obliged to progressively reduce the quantities as follows: 5% for 2023, 10% for 2024, 15% for 2025 and 20% for the year 2026, compared to the year 2022.
List of products subject to discount:
• Drink glasses, including their lids
• Food containers, such as tins with or without lids, used to contain foodstuffs which:
a) are intended for immediate consumption, either on the spot or as a package;
b) are usually consumed from the container;
c) are ready for consumption without requiring additional preparation such as cooking, boiling or heating, including food containers used for fast food menus or other menus ready for immediate consumption, excluding beverage containers, plates, packages and flexible material foils containing food products.
New rules for caps, caps and PETs
Also, according to the normative act, from July 03, 2024, single-use plastic products whose caps and lids are made of plastic can be placed on the market only if the caps and lids remain attached to the containers during the intended use of the products.
These products are beverage containers with a capacity of up to three litres, namely containers used to contain liquids, such as beverage bottles, including their stoppers and lids, and composite beverage packaging, including their stoppers and lids.
This category does not include glass or metal containers with plastic stoppers and lids or beverage containers intended and used for food intended for special medical purposes.
What will be written on the plastic cups
On the date of entry into force of the ordinance, certain single-use plastic products placed on the market must bear a clear, legible marking. And that cannot be erased. It must be placed on its packaging or directly on the product. And will inform consumers about waste management options for the product or means of waste disposal to be avoided for that product. The presence of plastic materials in the composition of the product must also be specified. And the negative impact on the environment resulting from throwing away the product or other improper means of disposing of the product.
Products that fall into this category:
• Absorbents, sanitary pads and pad applicators
• Wet wipes, namely pre-moistened personal care and household wipes
• Tobacco products with filters and filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products
• Glasses for drinks.
Two months late
The European Directive (2019/904) on limiting the impact of some plastic products on the environment entered into force on July 3, 2021. The normative act had to be transposed into the legislation of the EU countries by this date. In Romania, the directive is transposed almost two months behind the deadline.
A solution to replace plastic packaging is BIO packaging. Read here BIO packaging, the future in bakery, pastry, confectionery
