EXCLUSIVE: Germany moves to break deadlock over packaging waste rules

Germany is calling on its Council partners to grant exemptions to small businesses from a new regulation designed to tackle one of Europe's fastest growing waste streams. Berlin has proposed capitals resume negotiations on a proposed reform that would suspend a requirement for companies to engage an authorised representative in any EU country with whom they practice cross-border trade. MEPs have also called on the EU Council to resume negotiations on the proposal, which was part of a European Commission 'omnibus' package to reduce environmental red tape. Following weeks of protests on Instagram and TikTok over this provision in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), Germany agrees that the rule creates a bureaucratic and financial burden that must be addressed urgently, an EU official told Euractiv. Berlin has put its thoughts on paper. 'The German Federal Government therefore believes that companies placing only a very small amount of packaging on the market should be exempted from the obligation to appoint an authorised representative,' reads a discussion paper seen by Euractiv. In the document, dated 6 September and circulated among EU delegations, Germany urged capitals to back its proposal. 'The Presidency should be mandated to enter into trilogue as soon as possible in order to exempt small businesses,' reads the document, referring to final negotiations with the European Parliament. For companies that only place a small amount of packaging on the market of a given EU country, 'the costs for appointing an authorised representative often exceed the merchandise value', Berlin wrote. The suspension would apply to companies producing less than 10 tonnes of packaging per calendar year. Germany also calls for a 'one-stop-shop' system to make it easier for companies to appoint a representative. The Council suspended negotiations in June, citing 'strong reservations by a vast majority of member states', and leaving the matter to be dealt with in the context of a broader update of European extended producer responsibility policy through an upcoming Circular Economy Act. MEPs urge capitals to reopen talks on packaging waste rules A cross-party group of some three dozen MEPs are urging Ireland to reopen talks on… 2 minutes (rh)