Single-use plastic: ban on placing on the market

The evolution of trade also passes through greater attention to the territory and ecology.

In implementation of the EU Directive n. 904/2019 on the reduction of the incidence of some plastic products on the environment, the Legislative Decree n. 196/2021 (PDF icon Legislative Decree 196-2021.pdf) establishes in art. 5 that, from 14 January 2022, certain "restrictions on the placing on the market" of some single-use plastic products will have to be observed.

The restrictions are as follows:

1st paragraph: ban on the placing on the market of single-use plastic products listed in "Part B"

2nd paragraph: it is allowed to make these products available on the national market while stocks last and only by demonstrating that their placing on the market is prior to the date of entry into force of the ban

3rd paragraph: products made of biodegradable and compostable material are not included in the ban (see in detail the particularities relating to this paragraph)

4th paragraph: charges deriving from the implementation of this article

List of disposable plastic products listed in "part B" of Legislative Decree 904/2019:

1) cotton swabs, except when they fall within the scope of Council Directive 90/385 / EEC or Council Directive 93/42 / EEC;

2) cutlery (forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks);

3) plates;

4) straws, except when they fall within the scope of Directive 90/385 / EEC or Directive 93/42 / EEC;

5) stirrers for drinks;

6) poles to be attached to support balloons, excluding balls for industrial or other professional uses and applications that are not distributed to consumers, and related mechanisms;

7) Food containers in expanded polystyrene, or containers such as boxes with or without lids, used for foods that together meet the following criteria:

a) are intended for immediate consumption, on site or to take away;

b) are generally consumed directly by the container;

c) are ready for consumption without further preparation, for example for cooking, boiling or heating, including containers for fast food or other ready meals, with the exception of containers for drinks , dishes, packaging and wrapping containing food;

8) beverage containers in expanded polystyrene and relative caps and lids;

9) cups or glasses for drinks in expanded polystyrene and relative caps and lids