Europen urges EU to ensure free movement of packaged goods

The European Organization for Packaging and the Environment (Europen), along with 66 other European Union (EU) nations and national industry associations, has requested the EU safeguard the free movement of packaged goods.

All participating organisations have shared their concern that EU member states may effectively re-nationalise packaging policy in the near future that can harm the single market for all processed goods.

Europen chairman Hans Van Bochove said: “At a time when the EU is facing unprecedented challenges, we urge all three EU Institutions to explicitly defend the free movement of goods.

“Member states will be shooting themselves in the foot if they allow the single market for packaged goods to unravel.

“We would quickly end up with a patchwork of disparate national rules on packaging ending the free movement of goods and leading to trade issues between EU member states.”

Signatories have shared their concern that European nations can change the legal framework for the review of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) from focusing on the single market to environmental protection.

The change can encourage all the EU nations to introduce new and separate national regulations.

Accordingly, the co-signatories requested the EU policy-makers retain the single market which forms the legal base of the PPWD, as part of the review of the Circular Economy Package.

An EU industry association based in Brussels, Europen puts forward opinions on the packaging supply chain in Europe pertaining to packaging and the environment.

The members include multinational corporate companies and national packaging organisations.