On 24 March, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the Draft Law on Products Containing Plastic drafted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, which aims to reduce the impact of plastic products on environment and human health, as well as to promote a circular economy. The regulatory framework will become effective on 3 July.
Minister Artūrs Toms Plešs: “Marine pollution with plastic is one of the major global challenges; 70% of marine pollution is caused by disposable plastic products and fishing gear. For this reason, around 100 000 marine animals are killed each year, including whales, seals, turtles, dolphins. By implementing the requirements of the new draft law, the volume of plastic waste in Latvia will decrease by around 40 tonnes per year and will be replaced by more sustainable solutions, which are already gradually being offered to consumers”.
The new regulatory framework prohibits the marketing of a number of products containing disposable plastic, offering them free of charge to consumers, establishing a mandatory minimum proportion of recycled material in polyethylene terephthalate packaging and other packaging. The regulation also lays down the requirements for the design of packaging of beverages with caps and corks and the obligation to label disposable plastic products. The draft law includes the obligation to develop the manufacturer's extended liability systems for new products – wet napkins, balloons, tobacco products with filters and tobacco filters, as well as fishing gear containing plastic – by determining the manufacturer's liability for managing the waste generated by this product. There is also a requirement to ensure separate collection of packaging of beverages.
The draft law applies to those disposable plastic products, which already have environmentally friendly alternatives, for instance, cotton buds, plastic tableware and plates, plastic straws, balloon sticks, food and beverage packaging made of foam polystyrene, as well as products made of oxo-degradable plastic. Glasses are not yet banned, but measures must be taken to reduce their consumption. The obligation to reduce consumption and create producer liability systems also applies to fishing gear containing plastic.
By adopting this draft law, Latvia takes over the requirements of the European Union’s Directive to reduce the consumption of certain plastic products, fishing gear and their impact on the environment, as well as the requirement for the development and improvement of management of such product waste. This approach is one of the measures for the transition to the circular economy model. Latvia has to take over the provisions of the Directive by 2 July this year.
The draft law does not cover products and parts of products intended for export outside the EU’s single market, which are needed for manufacturing of products intended for export.
More detailed information on the draft law and answers to frequently asked questions are available at: https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/plastmasas-un-saturosie-izstradajumi