On Monday 31 May, the European Commission published its guidelines for EU Member States on the harmonised implementation of the Directive on Single-Use Plastics (EU 2019/904, the so-called ‘SUP Directive’), under this Directive, the ten most common plastic products found on beaches - such as disposable cutlery and plates, straws, balloons, cotton bud sticks - will be banned from the market from 3 July (see EUROPE 12728/12, 12634/17).
On the same day, a Commission implementing decision was adopted on the monitoring and inventory of fishing gear placed on the market and the collected fishing gear waste, which accounts for 27% of plastic marine litter.
The guidelines clarify the definition of plastic, single-use plastic products made entirely or partly of plastic and the different items covered by the Directive.
In particular, they clarify the terms ‘natural polymer’ and ‘chemical modification’ to ensure consistent implementation across the EU. According to the Directive, plastics include materials consisting of a polymer to which additives or other substances may have been added and which may serve as the main structural component of final products, with the exception of natural polymers, which have not been chemically modified.
The implementing decision will enable Member States to fulfil their obligation to report, from 2022 onwards, on fishing gear containing plastic placed on the market and fishing gear recovered from the sea.
The SUP Directive provides for a simple, uniform and consistent method of reporting to enable the amount of fishing gear placed on the market to be compared with the amount of gear collected. This should provide recycling companies with a clear view of the opportunities and the Commission with the information needed to set binding European collection targets. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)