Because it was a Directive it was up to the member state to implement. Regulations under the Environment Act 1995. EU states were given specific targets to be met by 2001. There will be standardised packaging for certain products. Excessive use of packaging to be limited by reducing weight and volume to a minimum level consistent with safety and consumer acceptance.
Materials hindering reuse and recovery are to be phased out.
Includes primary, secondary, and tertiary or transit packaging. In the UK this is how it was done. Handle more than 50 tonnes packaging a year. Of the 4,500 companies who should have registered 3,200 did so in the first year. If you import you bear all the costs of the stages up to selling.