NOS Supermarkets charge a levy on plastic packaging
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 21:26
The mouthpiece of supermarkets, the Central Bureau for Food Trade (CBL), is pleased that the inspectorate will temporarily check less stringently whether entrepreneurs comply with the rules regarding single-use plastic.
State Secretary Heijnen of Infrastructure and Water Management announced this decision today. According to the CBL, this means that it realizes that the levy is currently insufficiently workable.
The rules for plastic packaging have been in effect since July 1 this year. These mean that supermarkets and snack bars, among others, are no longer allowed to provide free plastic packaging. Since then, consumers have had to pay a separate levy for plastic packaging such as drinking cups.
This measure should ensure that people use their own reusable packaging instead of single-use plastic. However, the amount of the levy varies per store. “Sometimes a seller only asks for 1 euro cent, while another wants a higher amount,” said the CBL spokesperson.
Make price agreements
The trade association has long wanted members to be allowed to make agreements about a joint fixed levy to prevent differences. But the supervisory authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) said in June that it did not consider it necessary for supermarkets to make joint agreements.
The Central Bureau of Food Trade hopes that there will be a quick evaluation of the rules surrounding single-use plastics and that a new cabinet will make a final decision on the levy.
NOSReusable cups in the catering industry
According to McDonald’s Netherlands, not much will change as a result of today’s announcement. “The plastic surcharge on single-use cups has been legally required since July 1. The inspectorate will no longer enforce this, but all catering companies have already introduced this. And reusable cups will be mandatory in the catering industry from January and this will be enforced. In short, unfortunately it remains as it is,” said a spokesperson.
‘Legally it is watertight’
Environmental organization Recycling Network Benelux reacts disappointed. “The State Secretary can’t just say that, can he?”, director Rob Buurman responds. “A bit weak. Shouldn’t she just stand for the legislation? We will submit enforcement requests to the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate. Does that have a chance of success? One hundred percent. Legally it is watertight.”
The Dutch Association of Wholesalers in Paper and Packaging Materials does not yet want to respond. “There is still too much that is unclear,” says director Patrick Greveling. “We want to wait for the official letter to Parliament and we will discuss it with our supporters. The State Secretary’s response has various consequences for the market and we want to be able to translate these properly and substantiated.”
2023-12-14 20:26:35
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