The Norwegian government is announcing significant changes for everyone importing products with packaging, and many are unaware of the notified obligations.
Whether you are importing food, furniture, electronics, batteries, machinery, green products, or medicines, you are affected by the proposed change that all importers of packaging (products with packaging) should take producer responsibility for the packaging surrounding the imported product.
In today's regulation, there is a lower threshold for when a company must take producer responsibility for packaging. It is proposed to be changed, meaning that many more will now be covered by the producer responsibility scheme for packaging.
Currently, one is not required to take producer responsibility until importing over 1000 kilograms of packaging (including glass, metal, cardboard, EPS, plastic, beverage packaging, or wooden packaging) per year. The Environmental Directorate sent their recommendations for changes to chapters 6 and 7 of the Waste Regulation to the Ministry of Environment before Christmas. The proposed changes will result in many more being covered by producer responsibility for packaging.
The new proposal has not yet been put out for consultation, but it's worth emphasizing that the proposed change aligns with what has been suggested in the new Packaging Directive in the EU, where the minimum threshold is proposed to be discarded. It is therefore likely that this will be implemented.
The status in the EU is that the new Packaging Regulation has not been finalized for negotiation. The next step involves negotiations between the Parliament, the Council, and the Commission. There is no specific date provided for when the regulation will be finalized, but indications suggest that it is expected to be concluded within summer 2024.
Godt datagrunnlag er et viktig verktøy i virksomhetsstyring
