From 2025 on, all businesses placing packaging on the Portuguese market must comply with new labelling requirements under the country’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework.
The regulations aim to improve recycling practices and provide consumers with clear guidance on the disposal of different packaging materials.
Labelling obligations under Portugal’s EPR system
The rules, outlined in Article 28 of Decree-Law No. 152-D/2017, require companies to label all types of packaging, including plastics, glass, metals, paper, wood, and composite materials.
Labels must indicate the material type and, when necessary, provide disposal instructions. The law covers both primary and secondary packaging, with particular attention to single-use and non-reusable items.
While no specific symbols are legally required, businesses may use their own markings, EPR-provided icons, or display disposal information in manuals or at the point of sale.
Foreign companies selling products in Portugal must also make disposal guidance available online if physical labelling is not possible.
Alignment with European recycling standards
Portugal’s packaging labelling requirements follow EU recycling guidelines and are compatible with systems used in other countries, such as Italy.
Companies may also use voluntary symbols like the Green Dot, but the key obligation is to ensure that consumers can identify the correct disposal method for each packaging type.
The Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA) oversees compliance, and failure to meet the requirements could result in penalties or restrictions on market access.
The regulations form part of Portugal’s broader strategy to improve recycling rates and environmental accountability under the EPR system Ponto Verde.
Impact on businesses and supply chains
Companies in the packaging, consumer goods, and retail sectors will need to review products, labelling practices, and supply chains to meet the 2025 deadline.
Firms should ensure that all packaging entering Portugal complies with the new rules and that consumers are provided with clear disposal instructions.
Industry experts advise early assessment of existing packaging and integration of standardised labelling practices into production processes.
The regulation highlights the increasing importance of harmonised recycling practices across European markets and the growing focus on sustainability in business operations.
