Directive (EU) 2019/904-Single Use Plastic Products and Products Containing Oxo-Degradable Plastic

Test Method:

European Parliament and of the Council on the Reduction of the Impact of Certain Plastic Products on the Environment

Applicable countries:

France; Italy; Germany; Spain; Netherlands; Turkey; Sweden; Poland; Belgium

Requirement/Limits:

The sale of specific single use plastic products and products made from oxo-degradable plastic will no longer be allowed for sale on Amazon's physical and online sales.

The below marking requirements shall apply to the following single-use plastic products or contain partial plastics from 3 July 2021:
(1) Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons and tampon applicators;
(2) Wet wipes, i.e. pre-wetted personal care and domestic wipes;
(3) Tobacco products with filters and filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products;
(4) Cups for beverages.
Products shall bear a conspicuous, clearly legible and indelible marking on their packaging or on the product itself informing consumers of the following:
(1) Appropriate waste management options for the product or waste disposal means to be avoided for that product, in line with the waste hierarchy; and
(2) The presence of plastics in the product and the resulting negative environmental impacts of littering or other inappropriate waste disposal of the products

Product Scope:

Single-use-plastic products, including those made from biodegradable plastics, in the following categories but are not limited to:
●Cotton bud sticks, except if they are medical devices;
●Cutlery (forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks);
●Plates;
●Straws, except if they are medical devices;
●Beverage stirrers;
●Sticks to be attached to and to support balloons, except balloons for industrial or other professional uses and applications that are not distributed to consumers, including the mechanisms of such sticks
●Food containers made of expanded polystyrene, including receptacles such as boxes, with or without a cover, used to contain food that:
●is intended for immediate consumption, either on-the-spot or takeaway,
●is typically consumed from the receptacle, and
●is ready to be consumed without any further preparation, such as cooking, boiling, or heating, including food containers used for fast food or other meals ready for immediate consumption, with the exception of beverage containers, plates and packets, and wrappers containing food.
●Beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene, including their caps and lids;
●Cups for beverages made of expanded polystyrene, including their covers and lids.
●Products made from oxo-degradable plastic (defined under EU law as plastic materials that include additives which, through oxidation, lead to the fragmentation of the plastic material into micro-fragments or to chemical decomposition) in the following categories:
●Carrier bags or “shopper-bags” which consumers use to take away their purchases from the shop;
●Refuse sacks (usually bought in rolls) used for disposal of ordinary household waste;
●Aprons, for the protection of garments;
●Pick up bags to contain dog faeces;
●Bin liners;
●Gloves;
●Plastic sheeting for a variety of applications in agriculture and horticulture;
●Plastic film for wrapping newspapers and magazines;
●Bread bags;
●Frozen food bags;
●Wrappers for cigarette packets;
●Shrink-wrap and pallet-wrap;
● “Bubble-wrap”;
●Rigid products such as bottles and cups;
●Other products made from oxo-degradable plastic.