Danish firms face new packaging rules without final guidance

Danish companies must comply with new requirements under the European Union’s packaging regulation from today, but many say they are not ready, DR reports. The rules cover packaging design, limits on heavy metals and PFAS, and the recycling and reuse of packaging.

The regulation aims to reduce packaging waste and create more uniform rules across the EU. It was adopted in December 2024, but the final guidance, which runs to almost 70 pages, was not published until 3 August, just nine days before the rules took effect.

At Orkla Denmark, which produces and distributes a range of food products, managing director Simon Mosegaard Fibiger says the short timetable has made implementation difficult.

“We fully support the goal of recycling and reducing packaging, but being asked to do this under fairly complex rules within such a short time is irresponsible, and it puts us as a supplier in a very difficult position,” he said.

Fibiger said there were still unanswered questions about the packaging itself, the required documentation and how the rules should be applied. He used a jar of red cabbage as an example: its packaging includes the glass, lid, seal, label, adhesive and printing ink, as well as a cardboard box, film, pallet and transport labels.

Orkla must document the weight, suppliers, material types and recyclability of all these components, while also taking responsibility for them.

“It is not as simple as it should be,” Fibiger said. He added that it had been difficult to prepare because companies did not know the precise requirements until the final guidance was published.

Industry groups fear sanctions

Danish Industry, the country’s largest business organisation, also says companies are struggling with the new rules. Emil Fannikke Kiær, its director for business and members, said he had yet to hear from a company that was ready.

“That is why we are asking the Danish authorities, with whom we otherwise have a good dialogue, not to come out with the fine book and issue fines from the start, so companies have an opportunity to act on this,” Kiær said.

Danish Industry and Orkla Denmark said they support regulation in the area, but described the current task as an overwhelming bureaucratic burden. Kiær called it “a bureaucratic sprint with a blindfold on”. Danish Chamber of Commerce and SMVdanmark have also warned that the requirements are unrealistic for small businesses.

Henrik Beha Pedersen, founder of the organisation Plastic Change, rejected the criticism and said companies needed to take responsibility for the packaging accompanying the goods they sell.

“The fact is that Danish companies must comply with this. They have known about it, and it has been a long time coming,” he said. He argued that companies could reduce their costs by using less packaging.

From today, the name and contact address of the manufacturer or importer must also be clearly displayed on the packaging.

Fibiger estimates that Orkla Denmark will need a full year to implement the rules without risking sanctions.

The office of Climate, Energy and Utilities Minister Samira Nawa did not provide a comment on whether authorities would hold back on issuing fines. In a written statement, however, the ministry said the Danish Energy Agency, which will oversee compliance, would “exercise discretion” and that companies should be given an opportunity to adapt.

The European Commission is responsible for interpreting the rules. The ministry acknowledged that the process of finalising them had been slow.