The European Commission is collecting feedback on its "omnibus" package aimed at simplifying EU environmental legislation and reducing administrative burdens. The proposals were unveiled in December, and stakeholders now have eight weeks to submit comments.
All feedback received will be summarised by the Commission and presented to the European Parliament and the Council to inform the legislative debate.
One proposal concerns a requirement under extended producer responsibility (EPR) rules. Companies are currently required to appoint an authorised representative in EU countries where they sell products but are not established. The Commission proposes suspending this obligation for companies based in the EU until 1 January 2035.
The proposal covers several product categories, including batteries, packaging and packaged products, electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), and certain single-use plastic items.
Several industry associations and companies have already voiced opposition to the proposed change. Critics include the industry umbrella group Recycling Europe and the German waste management association BDE.
Other simplifications proposed by the EU Commission include reducing the burdens associated with reporting frequency for producers to once per year. The Commission also plans to lift the obligation to report data to the SCIP database, which covers substances of concern in products.
The information submitted by producers on articles or products containing more than 0.1 per cent by weight of substances of very high concern (SVHCs), as listed under the EU chemicals regulation REACH, has been stored in a central database introduced under the revised Waste Framework Directive in 2018. Intended to provide recycling and waste management companies with the information needed to identify hazardous waste streams and support the quality of secondary raw materials, the database "has not been effective while imposing substantial administrative costs", according to the Commission.
The environmental omnibus is open for feedback until 7 May via the Commission's "Have Your Say" consultation portal.
