WRITTEN QUESTION E-1103/00 by Paul Lannoye (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Implementation of Directive 96/62 on packaging.
Date: 2000-04-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, packaging product, waste recycling

C 53 E/74

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

Assuming the sponsoring company prepares a Protexin dossier which complies with Council Directive 70/
last amended by Council Directive 96/51/EC of 23 July 1996 (5), and which demonstrates a
524/CEE,
beneficial effect on animal production or on animal products, the dossier will be evaluated on its own
merits, provided it is submitted to the Commission and the Member States according to the provisions of
Article 4, paragraph 1 and 2 of Directive 96/51/EC.

(1) OJ L 270, 14.2.1970.
(2) OJ L 334, 31.12.1993.
(3) OJ L 64, 7.3.1987.
(4) OJ L 208, 11.8.1994.
(5) OJ L 235, 17.9.1996.

(2001/C 53 E/089)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1103/00

by Paul Lannoye (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Implementation of Directive 96/62 on packaging

(7 April 2000)

Directive 94/62/EC (1), of 20 December 1994, on packaging and packaging waste, states in its Article 6(1)
that, no later than 10 years from the date by which it must be implemented in national law, a percentage
of packaging waste will be recovered and recycled, which will have to be determined by the Council (cid:145)with
a view to substantially increasing the targets mentioned(cid:146).

Article 6(3)(b) of the same directive states that, no later than six months before the end of the first five-
year phase the Council shall, acting by qualified majority and on a proposal from the Commission, fix
targets for the second five-year phase.

How is it that the Commission has not yet made a proposal in accordance with the instructions given to it
in this connection by the European Parliament and Council directive?

(1) OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 10.

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2000)

The obligation to revise substantially the recovery and recycling targets is provided in Article 6.3(b) and
Article 6.1(c) of the Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC of 20 December 1994 on packaging and
packaging waste, adopted in 1994. The compromise reached by the Parliament and the Council, after
lengthy discussions in the conciliation committee, consisted of a first range of quantified targets for
recovery and recycling, to be achieved by mid-2001 and a commitment by the Community legislator to
increase these targets significantly in a second phase to be concluded by mid-2006.

There are a large number of parties involved in the packaging chain including economic operators,
consumers, environmental organisations and authorities. They have a wide variety of different interests.
This makes it necessary to set up a framework for dialogue in order to ensure a balanced approach. This
process is, however, enabling the Commission to evaluate the situation correctly and to develop possible
solutions with the aim to make the Directive more effective. Several options have been presented to and
discussed with those concerned and the Member States, but the measures to be finally proposed by the
Commission are still under consideration internally.