SUP Directive: are we ready to ban single-use plastics?

There we are. The long-awaited D-day for single-use plastics has arrived.

On 3 July 2021 the so-called "Single-Use Plastic Directive" 2019/204/EU and the related Regulation 2020/20151/EU came into force according to art. 7 of the Directive itself, concerning the marking of certain single-use plastic products, listed in part D of the Annex to the Directive.

3rd of July 2021:  what will happen next?

With the entry into force of Directive 2019/204/EU, it will no longer be possible to place on the European market the following single-use products made of plastic, i.e. those listed in part B of the Annex to the Directive:

Cotton bud sticks, except if they fall within the scope of Dir. 90/385/EEC or Dir. 93/42/EEC;

(2) Cutlery (forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks);

(3) Plates;

(4) Straws, except if they fall within the scope of Dir. 90/385/EEC or Dir. 93/42/EEC;

(5) Beverage stirrers;

(6) 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;

(7) Food containers made of expanded polystyrene, i.e. receptacles such as boxes, with or without a cover, used to contain food which:

(a) is intended for immediate consumption, either on-the-spot or take-away,

(b) is typically consumed from the receptacle, and (c) is ready to be consumed without any further preparation, such as cooking, boiling or heating, including food containers used for fast food or other meal ready for immediate consumption, except beverage containers, plates and packets and wrappers containing food;

(8) Beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene, including their caps and lids;

(9) Cups for beverages made of expanded polystyrene, including their covers and lids.

Directive (EU) 2019/904 requires harmonised specifications for the marking of single use plastic products listed in Part D of its Annex. Reg. (EU) 2020/2151 laying down rules on harmonised marking specifications on single-use plastic products listed in Part D of the Annex to Directive (EU) 2019/904

• Packaging of sanitary towels (pads);
• Packaging of tampons and tampon applicators;
• Packaging of wet wipes (i.e. pre-wetted personal care and domestic wipes);
• Beverage cups made partly from plastic shall bear the following printed marking.