Regulatory updates: how PPWR Copilot stays current

Change log

1. 16 Aug 2026DE (Germany); EU-wide PPWR FAQ review

   Updated Germany’s deposit-return record and screener to the VerpackDG rules effective 12 August 2026. Corrected the treatment of syrup and concentrates, cider/apple wine, plastic beverage bottles, beverage cans and ambiguous container formats. The German LUCID registration citation now points to VerpackDG § 6. Separately, the European Commission’s second-edition PPWR FAQ, published 3 August 2026, was reviewed on 18 August 2026. It clarified EU-wide application questions but did not require any additional country-requirement record change, so the dataset version remains v2026-08-16.

   Source: VerpackDG §§ 6, 46 and 47; current ZSVR deposit guidance; ZSVR product sheets 01-000-0030 and 01-000-0090; ZSVR aluminium-bottle classification decision of 20 October 2022; European Commission, Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) - Frequently Asked Questions, 2nd edition, published 3 August 2026, ISBN 978-92-68-42316-5, DOI 10.2779/4868962.
2. 31 Jul 2026DE, PT (new deposit records); MT, HU, PL, FI, NL, SE, DK, IE, LV, AT (corrections)

   Germany and Portugal added as operational deposit-return markets, taking screening coverage to 17 EU deposit markets. Malta now states that no on-pack deposit logo is mandatory (the BCRS logo is optional; acceptance runs on the registered GTIN barcode). Hungary now cites the prescribed Annex 1 deposit symbol under Decree 450/2023 with a dedicated DRS GTIN. Poland now cites the deposit provisions inserted into the Act of 13 June 2013 and states that single use glass is not in the Polish system. Finland is described as de facto universal via the beverage container excise duty rather than a direct statutory deposit obligation. Legal citations for the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Latvia and Austria now name the underlying statute or regulation instead of the scheme operator.

   Source: Per-market statutes and regulations cited in the dataset per country
3. 2 Jul 2026NL, AT, PL, IE, SE, DK, FI, SK, HR, EE, MT, RO, LT, LV, HU

   Deposit mark lines in dossiers now state the scope of the obligation, for example "Deposit mark (scope: single use beverage containers in the deposit system)". This makes clear that deposit marking covers in scope beverage containers only and is not a duty on other packaging placed on the same market. The scope wording for Malta, Romania and Hungary now names single use beverage containers explicitly. Deposit scheme facts themselves are unchanged.

   Source: National deposit-return scheme rules already cited per market in the dataset
4. 2 Jul 2026LT (Lithuania)

   Corrected the legal citation for Lithuania. The packaging law is Law No. IX-517 on the Management of Packaging and Packaging Waste, applied together with implementing rules of the Ministry of Environment. The previous citation referenced the general waste management law No VIII-787. Requirement substance is unchanged.

   Source: Law No. IX-517 on the Management of Packaging and Packaging Waste (e-seimas.lrs.lt)
5. 2 Jul 2026SI (Slovenia)

   Citation precision update for Slovenia. The packaging decree citation now reads "Uredba o embalaži in odpadni embalaži, Ur. l. RS 54/21, as amended (54/21, 208/21, 44/22 – ZVO-2, 120/22)". Requirement substance is unchanged.

   Source: Uredba o embalaži in odpadni embalaži, Ur. l. RS 54/21 (pisrs.si)
6. 18 Jun 2026GR, EL, NL, BE, AT, PL, IE, SE, DK, FI

   Corrected: on-pack material identification codes (Decision 97/129/EC) are a VOLUNTARY EU standard in these markets, not mandatory; the genuine obligation is EPR registration / compliance-scheme membership. Entries that previously listed "Material codes" as mandatory now state EPR scheme registration as the duty and describe material codes as voluntary (Sweden and Finland: if applied, follow 97/129/EC). Deposit-return-scheme facts are unchanged.

   Source: Decision 97/129/EC Art. 3 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec/1997/129/oj); national EPR authorities (NL Afvalfonds Verpakkingen; SE Naturvårdsverket / SFS 2022:1274; FI Tukes; PL packaging act)
7. 18 Jun 2026All markets

   Dossier footer no longer states entries are "verified against primary sources" (verification status now varies by market). The generic fallback applied to markets outside the table no longer implies material identification codes are mandatory.

   Internal update
8. 12 Jun 2026All markets

   Annex VIII template aligned verbatim with the OJ text of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (OJ L, 22.1.2025). The numbered points of the EU Declaration of Conformity now reproduce the official wording word-for-word; previously signed declarations retain their original snapshots.

   Source: Regulation (EU) 2025/40, Annex VIII (OJ L, 22.1.2025)
9. 12 Jun 2026All markets

   28-market regulatory content package reviewed and signed off by Sean Kirkwood (founder, PPWR Copilot Ltd) on 12 June 2026 via recorded confirmation. Activated EU-wide upcoming-regulation lines: PFAS concentration limits for food-contact packaging from 12 Aug 2026 (PPWR Art. 5), and harmonised material-composition labelling expected from 12 Aug 2028, subject to the Article 12 implementing act and transition rules.

   Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/
10. 12 Jun 2026CZ (Czech Republic)

    Added: EPR registration + scheme participation (e.g. EKO-KOM) required; material marking voluntary under Act 477/2001 (97/129/EC if applied); returnable-packaging symbol on refillable beverage containers.

    Source: Act No. 477/2001 Coll.; Decree 116/2002 Sb.
11. 12 Jun 2026BG (Bulgaria)

    Added: material identification codes (97/129/EC) and the separate-collection symbol required; EPR registration; no de-minimis.

    Source: Ordinance on Packaging and Packaging Waste (Waste Management Act), Art. 5(1) + Annexes
12. 12 Jun 2026RO (Romania)

    Added: AFM registration; material marking voluntary since OUG 74/2018 (97/129/EC if applied); "ambalaj reutilizabil" on reusable packaging; SGR deposit mark on covered beverage containers.

    Source: Law 249/2015 Arts. 9, 11 (as amended by OUG 74/2018); GD 1074/2021
13. 12 Jun 2026LT (Lithuania)

    Added: on-pack material identification mandatory; GPAIS register entry and reporting; deposit mark on covered beverages.

    Source: Law No VIII-787 + Environment Ministry implementing order
14. 12 Jun 2026MT (Malta)

    Added: material identification codes (97/129/EC); ERA registration + authorised scheme (GreenPak/Green MT); BCRS deposit mark on covered beverages.

    Source: S.L. 549.43; Beverage Containers Recycling Regulations
15. 12 Jun 2026LV (Latvia)

    Added: marking conditional (prescribed codes/symbols if marked) under Cabinet Regulation 140/2002; Natural Resources Tax or PRO contract; DIO deposit mark on covered beverages.

    Source: Cabinet Regulation No. 140/2002 §3
16. 12 Jun 2026EE (Estonia)

    Added: Packaging Register entry via accredited PRO; material marking optional (97/129/EC if applied) under Pakendiseadus §23; deposit mark on covered beverages.

    Source: Pakendiseadus §§10², 23, 24
17. 12 Jun 2026HR (Croatia)

    Added: FZOEU registration; returnable-packaging sign on reusables; deposit mark on covered single use beverage containers; material codes voluntary.

    Source: NN 137/2023; Waste Management Act NN 84/2021
18. 12 Jun 2026HU (Hungary)

    Added: dual registration (MOHU + state OKIR/NWMD) before first sale; quarterly KF-code declarations; REpont deposit mark on covered beverages; material marking conditional.

    Source: Gov. Decree 80/2023 (III.14.); Waste Act 2012/CLXXXV
19. 12 Jun 2026SK (Slovakia)

    Added: producer-register entry + OZV scheme membership; "Z" deposit mark on covered beverages; material marking conditional (97/129/EC if applied).

    Source: Act 79/2015 Coll.; Act 302/2019 Coll.
20. 12 Jun 2026SI (Slovenia)

    Added: collective-scheme registration + quarterly reporting (15 t threshold abolished); material marking voluntary since the Ur. l. RS 208/2021 amendment (97/129/EC if applied).

    Source: Uredba o embalazi in odpadni embalazi, Ur. l. RS 54/2021 as amended by 208/2021
21. 12 Jun 2026LU (Luxembourg)

    Added: EPR via approved scheme (Valorlux) or individual route; no national material-marking duty; EU-level marks apply.

    Source: Law of 21 March 2017 (Legilux)
22. 12 Jun 2026CY (Cyprus)

    Added: EPR under Law 32(I)/2002; Green Dot symbol voluntary since 11 May 2021; no mandatory material marking.

    Source: Packaging and Packaging Waste Law 32(I)/2002, as amended (2021)
23. 12 Jun 2026DE (Germany)

    Corrected: LUCID registration mandatory and material codes optional; Grüner Punkt non-mandatory since 1 Jan 2009 (5th VerpackV Amendment). Replaces prior "Green Dot optional since 2020" wording.

    Source: VerpackG; 5th VerpackV Amendment (2009)
24. 12 Jun 2026ES (Spain)

    Enhanced: 97/129 material-code marking is voluntary; domestic packaging must indicate the waste fraction/container; reuse/deposit indication where applicable; PRO membership symbols optional unless required by the scheme contract.

    Source: RD 1055/2022 Art. 13
25. 12 Jun 2026UK (United Kingdom)

    Updated: on-pack recyclability labelling currently voluntary; the "Recycle/Do Not Recycle" provision was removed from the 2024 Regulations and the trailed 1 Apr 2027 mandate dropped (per Defra/OPRL); pEPR reporting still applies. UK is outside PPWR. Entry remains provisional until the official Defra publication reference is confirmed.

    Source: Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024
26. 12 Jun 2026NL (Netherlands)

    Added deposit-return mark for single use beverage containers (scheme extended to cans since 2023).

    Source: Dutch deposit-return scheme
27. 12 Jun 2026IE (Ireland)

    Added Re-turn deposit mark for single use beverage containers (scheme live Feb 2024).

    Source: Re-turn scheme
28. 12 Jun 2026AT (Austria)

    Added Einwegpfand deposit mark for single use beverage containers (scheme live 1 Jan 2025).

    Source: Austrian deposit scheme
29. 12 Jun 2026PL (Poland)

    Added deposit-system mark for beverage containers (system live 1 Oct 2025).

    Source: Ustawa o systemie kaucyjnym
30. 12 Jun 2026DK (Denmark)

    Added Pant A/B/C deposit mark for single use beverage containers.

    Source: Dansk Retursystem
31. 12 Jun 2026SE (Sweden)

    Added pant deposit mark for single use beverage containers.

    Source: Returpack / Pantamera
32. 12 Jun 2026FI (Finland)

    Added pantti deposit mark for single use beverage containers.

    Source: PALPA
33. 12 Jun 2026All markets

    Country requirements moved to a versioned dataset (v2026-06-12). Entries carried over unchanged from the prior live ruleset; every dossier now records the dataset version used to produce it.

    Internal update