The Commission issued a Press Release on 18/08/05 reminding Member States that by then they should have transposed Directive 2004/12/EC, amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging & packaging waste, into their national legislation. This Directive roughly doubles packaging recycling targets & strengthens the target for recovery, clarifying the definition of packaging & allows certain provisions to be implemented by voluntary agreements if they deliver what is legally required. Targets need to be achieved between 2008-2015, depending on the Member State, as detailed in the Directive & the Press Release. Although many Member States already achieve the new targets, only Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg & the UK have informed the Commission that they have incorporated the new Directive into their national laws.
