§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the EU regarding the harmonisation of recycling requirements and certification for all firms selling their products within the EU. [73653]
§ Mr. BattlePrevention of distortions in the Internal Market is a key objective in the Government's consideration of any proposed EU measure to promote574W recycling, and will be among the issues that the UK will ensure is brought out during the discussions now taking place in the EU Recycling Forum, where options for improving the competitiveness of the recycling industries are currently being considered.
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (94/62/EC), the only Directive containing recycling targets so far adopted, harmonises Member States' management of packaging waste. It also lays down certain "essential requirements" with which packaging must comply before being allowed to circulate within the Community. These provisions in the Directive were transposed into UK law in the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 1998.