The articles of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation that compliance teams are most often handed by a customer, a lawyer or a supplier. Each page gives the compliance date, who the article binds, a plain-English summary, and a link to the EUR-Lex text.
| Article | Title | Applies | Binds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Article 3 | Definitions | August 12, 2026 | Everyone |
| Article 5 | Requirements for substances in packaging | August 12, 2026 | Manufacturers, importers, non-EU producers |
| Article 6 | Recyclable packaging | Art. 6(1) from August 12, 2026; grades from January 1, 2030, or 24 months after the Art. 6(4) delegated acts enter into force, whichever is the latest | Manufacturers, importers |
| Article 7 | Minimum recycled content in plastic packaging | January 1, 2030, or 3 years after the Art. 7(8) implementing act enters into force, whichever is the latest | Manufacturers, importers |
| Article 9 | Compostable packaging | February 12, 2028 | Manufacturers, importers |
| Article 10 | Packaging minimization | Art. 10(1) by January 1, 2030; Art. 10(2) carries no date of its own (see the article) | Manufacturers, importers |
| Article 11 | Reusable packaging | August 12, 2026 | Manufacturers, importers, distributors |
| Article 12 | Labeling of packaging | August 12, 2028, or 24 months after the Art. 12(6) or 12(7) implementing acts enter into force, whichever is the latest | Manufacturers, importers, distributors |
| Article 14 | Environmental claims | August 12, 2026 | Economic operators making environmental claims on packaging (Art. 14 names no duty-holder) |
| Article 15 | Obligations of manufacturers | August 12, 2026 | Manufacturers |
| Article 16 | Information obligations of suppliers | August 12, 2026 | Suppliers of packaging or packaging materials |
| Article 24 | Obligation related to excessive packaging | January 1, 2030, or 3 years after the Art. 24(2) implementing acts enter into force, whichever is the latest | Whoever fills the packaging |
| Article 25 | Restrictions on use of certain packaging formats | January 1, 2030 | All economic operators |
| Article 26 | Obligations in relation to reusable packaging | August 12, 2026 | Economic operators making reusable packaging available on a Member State's territory for the first time |
| Article 29 | Re-use targets | January 1, 2030 | Economic operators; Art. 29(6) binds final distributors |
| Article 38 | Conformity assessment procedure | August 12, 2026 | Manufacturers |
| Article 39 | EU declaration of conformity | August 12, 2026 | Manufacturers |
| Article 44 | Register of producers | August 12, 2026; national registers 18 months after the first Art. 44(14) act enters into force, format act overdue | Producers, authorized representatives |
| Article 45 | Extended producer responsibility | August 12, 2026 | Producers |
| Article 50 | Deposit and return systems | January 1, 2029 | Member States, producers, final distributors |
| Article 63 | Green public procurement | Implementing acts due by February 12, 2030 (Art. 63(1)); requirements apply to procurement procedures initiated 12 months after the Art. 63(1) implementing acts enter into force (Art. 63(2)) | The Commission, contracting authorities and contracting entities; public contracts for packaging, packaged products or services using them |
| Article 70 | Repeal and transitional provisions | August 12, 2026 | Everyone |
| Annex II | Categories and parameters for assessment of recyclability of packaging | Grades from January 1, 2030, or 24 months after the Art. 6(4) delegated acts enter into force, whichever is the latest; recycled-at-scale test from January 1, 2035, or five years after the Art. 6(5) implementing acts enter into force, whichever is the latest; Grade A or B only from January 1, 2038 | Manufacturers, importers, and distributors |
| Annex VII | Conformity assessment procedure, Module A | August 12, 2026 | Manufacturers |
| Annex VIII | EU declaration of conformity, model structure | August 12, 2026 | Manufacturers |