Vol. 522 No. 3
203 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on whether the unnecessary waste of twin packs in supermarkets is excessive; the plans he has to tackle this waste of dual packaging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18804/00]
The Waste Management (Packaging) (Amendment) Regulations, l998, provide that a producer, within the meaning of the regulations, shall not supply packaging or packaged products to other persons within the State unless the packaging concerned complies with the requirements of the third schedule of the regulations. This schedule relates to essential requirements on the composition and the reusable and recoverable, including recyclable, nature of packaging, and transposes into Irish legislation the provisions of Annex II of European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste. I have no function in relation to the enforcement of these regulations.
Under Article 18 of Directive 94/62/EC, member states may not impede the placing on the market of packaging which satisfies the provisions of the directive, which is in accordance with the essential requirements specified in Annex II as to the nature and composition of packaging.
