Regulation on the Prohibition of Single-Use Plastic Products and Products Made from Oxo-Degradable Plastic

In a letter received from the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye based on a letter of the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye, it is stated that the EU Commission's regulation numbered 2019/904 aims to reduce the use of single-use plastics within the EU.

The letter states that, in line with the said regulation, the "Regulation on the Prohibition of the Placing on the Market of Single-Use Plastic Products and Products Made from Oxo-Degradable Plastic" has been approved by Germany and will enter into force as of 3 July 2021. The relevant regulation defines the concepts of single-use plastic product, plastic, oxo-degradable plastic, placing on the market and making available on the market, and lists the products whose placing on the market is prohibited. The defined concepts are:

• Single-Use Plastic Product: A product made wholly or partly from plastic that is designed, produced and placed on the market not to be reused
• Plastic: A raw material made from polymer (excluding biopolymers)
• Oxo-Degradable Plastic (oxo-degradable plastics): Plastic in which chemicals are used during the production process so that it can fragment in nature
• Placing on the Market: The first placing on the market of a product within the scope of this regulation
• Making Available on the Market: The delivery of a product, whether in return for payment or free of charge, for use or consumption in the course of a commercial activity

Products whose placing on the market is prohibited:

• Plastic cotton buds, excluding medical uses
• Plastic forks, spoons, knives and plates
• Plastic stirring sticks
• Beverage cups (to-go cups) and beverage containers made of polystyrene, together with their lids
• Straws, excluding medical uses
• Balloon sticks (excluding industrial uses not offered to consumers)
• Fast-food food packages made of polystyrene
• Products made of oxo-degradable plastic (oxo-degradable plastics)

The letter further states that the sale of the above-mentioned products whose placing on the market is prohibited may be possible provided that they were placed on the market before the date of entry into force of the relevant regulation (3 July 2021); and that, by setting a transition period, the aim is to clear the surplus that has built up in stocks due to the pandemic and to prevent the economic loss that might arise by ensuring that products ready for consumption are not destroyed.

In addition, it is explained that, since in the long term the supply of these products on the market will disappear as a result of the prohibition of their production and import under the EU Commission regulation, companies operating in the sector should turn to products such as metal, wood, glass and cardboard instead of single-use plastic products.

 

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Date Added :2021-03-16 03:32:00