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1. Operation of the IRPC

TABLE OF CONTENT

Message from the Chair and the Director

2. FOST PLUS

IVCIE-interieur-Schaarbeek-Activiteitenverslag 2024

1.1. Tasks of the IRPC

The tasks of the IRPC include the following:



Monitoring whether companies (parties responsible for packaging, aka “responsible companies”) and accredited compliance organisations are fulfilling their reporting and take-back (i.e. recycling and recovery)
obligations.



Checking the way in which the responsible companies and accredited compliance organisations meet their statutory recycling and recovery targets.



Approving or rejecting prevention plans of companies (responsible companies).



Granting or refusing accreditation to the organisations responsible for promoting, coordinating and financing the selective collection, recycling and recovery of packaging waste.



Assisting and advising the regional governments, for example by creating consultative forums, providing logistical support or proposing legislative amendments.



Conducting or commissioning studies and research into the management and prevention of packaging waste.



Processing notifications in order to issue approval for planned shipments of waste that does not originate from Belgium and will not be treated there either. Additionally, processing individual shipment notifications
relating to an approved notification.

1.2. Composition of the IRPC

The composition of the decision-making body in 2024:

The composition of the decision-making body in 2024:



The organisational structure of the Permanent Secretariat in 2024:

Marc Adams

Departments under the Director

Linda Vanden Broecke

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

General affairs
and Upstream External Audit department

Quentin Mathot

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Accreditations, Declarations
and Internal Audit department

Caroline Auriel

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Prevention, Research, Downstream External
Audit and Transit department

16

At the end of 2024, the Permanent Secretariat had a total of 16 members of staff.

1.3. Extended Producer
Responsibility
Interregional
Platform (EPRIP)
and EPR and Litter
Cooperation Agreement

The IRPC acts as secretariat for the Extended Producer Responsibility Interregional Platform, which was created in 2009 with the aim of developing a common understanding on extended producer responsibility (EPR).

The EPRIP is working hard on preparing a new EPR and Litter Cooperation Agreement. On the one hand, this agreement aims to create an interregional framework for dealing with streams other than packaging waste that are subject to the principle of EPR. On the other hand, it seeks to pass on the costs of litter to those who cause these waste streams.

This new Cooperation Agreement will incorporate the EPRIP into the IRPC, creating the new “Interregional EPR Commission”, which will comprise two sections: the “Packaging decision-making body” and the “EPR decision-making body”.

As well as finalising the Cooperation Agreement, work has already begun on preparing the implementing cooperation agreements required to apply the EPR part of the aforementioned Cooperation Agreement.

1.4. Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)

Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 on packaging and packaging waste, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904, and repealing Directive 94/62/EC, was published on 22 January 2025.

This Regulation (hereinafter referred to as the PPWR) entered into force on 11 February 2025 and sets out new provisions for preventing and reusing packaging. It largely replaces existing Belgian legislation, specifically the Cooperation Agreement of 4 November 2008 on the prevention and management of packaging waste.

The PPWR will cover the entire life cycle of packaging and packaging waste. New Belgian legislation, which is yet to be drafted, must ensure that this Regulation is implemented by 12 August 2026 at the latest.

Below is a brief overview of the five key elements of the PPWR:

1. Sustainability requirements and recycled content in packaging

The PPWR tightens up existing rules for substances present in packaging by imposing restrictions on placing on the market food contact packaging that contains excessive levels of PFASs.

The Regulation also imposes an obligation to introduce a reporting system on hazardous substances.

In addition, it introduces minimum recycled content targets for several categories of plastic packaging. For example, single-use plastic beverage bottles must contain a minimum percentage of recycled content of 30% by 2030, and 65% by 2040. Contact-sensitive packaging made from PET as the major component must also contain 30% recycled content by 2030, and 50% by 2040.

2. Prevention targets

The PPWR sets incremental targets per capita for each Member State to reduce the amount of packaging waste, with a 5% reduction by 2030, 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040, compared with 2018.

The Regulation also sets a maximum empty space ratio of 50% in packaging and requires manufacturers to minimise the weight and volume of packaging.

3. Reuse targets and refill obligations

The PPWR sets binding reuse targets for 2030 and indicative targets for 2040, depending on the type of packaging and taking into account certain exceptions. Cardboard packaging is generally exempted from these new rules.

Take-away businesses will also have to offer their customers the option of using their own containers at no additional charge, and by 2030 must endeavour to offer 10% of products in packaging formats suitable for reuse.

4. Deposit return systems

The Member States must set up a deposit return system for single-use plastic bottles and metal beverage containers by 2029 at the latest, unless they can demonstrate that at least 90% are collected separately and recycled.

5. Restrictions on certain packaging formats

The new rules introduce restrictions on certain packaging formats, including:

single-use plastic packaging for fruit and vegetables;
single-use plastic packaging for food and beverages (filled and consumed on the premises), condiments and sauces within the HORECA sector;
single-use plastic packaging for small cosmetic and toiletry products used in the accommodation sector (e.g. shampoo or body lotion bottles);
very lightweight plastic carrier bags, except for very lightweight plastic carrier bags required for hygiene reasons or provided as sales packaging for loose food to prevent food wastage.

For Belgium, this will mean some significant changes. For example, there will no longer be a national definition of “responsible company” or “producer”; instead there will be a uniform European definition of “producer”. The current Belgian term “responsible company” and its corresponding definition will therefore be scrapped.

This is not just a change in terminology; there are also substantive changes. For instance, a company currently classified as a “responsible company” may no longer be considered a “producer” under the new Regulation. Conversely, companies that were not previously classified as “responsible companies” may now suddenly come under the definition of “producers”.

1.5. 2024 budget of the IRPC