The Environment DG of the EU Commission has published a survey on if & how Member States monitor compliance of packaging with the Packaging & Packaging Waste Directive's Essential Requirements. Arcadis was contracted to carry out the survey, the executive summary of which outlines the following points: Packaging chain companies support the Essential Requirements & most apply CEN Standards to ensure compliance; Member States do not, in general, monitor compliance (reasons are given); The "general & vague way in which the requirements are formulated & the way in which CEN standards are set up" makes enforcement difficult but this general approach is perceived as necessary to cover the complete & varied market of different packaging solutions." Arcadis recommends 3 possible policy options to address the lack of monitoring of compliance.
