The European Parliament wants to reduce the administrative burden on SMEs in regards to waste legislation. It wants to exempt small companies from the obligation of appointing a representative for waste legislation compliance in each EU-member state where they sell products.

According to current waste legislation in the European Union, companies bringing products to the EU market pay fees to help cover the cost of collecting, sorting and recycling these products when they become waste. This is also known as extended producer responsibility, or EPR.

These producers also need to have an authorized representative for EPR compliance, in each member state where they sell their products. The Commission now wants to suspend this rule in several sectors, to reduce barriers within the EU.

This suspension would target small EU-based companies that produce packaging, batteries, textiles, footwear, electronics and single-use plastics. They will no longer need to appoint a representative for waste legislation compliance in each country they sell to. The European Commission wants to enforce the suspension until 2035, or until another more comprehensive circular economy law is adopted.

The suspension targets companies that produce packaging, batteries and textiles among others

Small companies will still need to comply with other obligations under the EPR system, like waste-prevention or fees. The Commission is also considering a better information exchange within the EPR system between member states, with interoperable digital systems and common reporting requirements for companies.

“For European companies to be able to grow and sell , unnecessary administrative burdens should be reduced without compromising our environmental ambitions.

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