The Regulation
PPWR Legal Text: Regulation (EU) 2025/40 Article by Article, with 71 Articles, 13 Annexes and Corrigenda
Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR) article by article: 13 chapters, 71 articles, 13 annexes, 7 corrigenda and what is pending as of 24 October 2026.
Regulation (EU) 2025/40 is the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), published in OJ L, 2025/40, 22.1.2025, in force since 11 February 2025 and applicable from 12 August 2026 (Article 71 of the PPWR). The legal text holds 188 recitals, 71 articles in 13 chapters and 13 annexes, and EUR-Lex lists it under CELEX 32025R0040. No amendment to it is in force as of 24 October 2026: seven corrigenda have been published, and two Commission proposals would change it.
This page maps the text of the PPWR, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, chapter by chapter and annex by annex, and adds the status layer that the bare text on EUR-Lex does not show. It starts with the identity of the act: its official publication, its legal basis Article 114 TFEU and the procedure 2022/0396(COD). It then sets out the 13 chapters with their article ranges, the 13 annexes with the article each one serves, and the seven parts of the text that have their own page.
The dates of the act come in three layers, and later obligations such as the harmonised material label (Art. 12(1)) and the 50 % empty space ratio (Art. 24(1)) start from a fixed date or a period after a Commission act, whichever is later. Only one delegated act, Delegated Decision (EU) 2026/429, has been adopted as of 24 October 2026. The page closes with the corrigenda R(01) to R(07), the proposals COM(2025) 982 and COM(2026) 590, and how the text works with national law and Commission guidance.
Compiled by the PackagingRegulation.org Editorial Team from the Regulation's text on EUR-Lex and the cited official sources. Every article reference and date is checked against the Official Journal; see our methodology and fact-checking.
What Is Regulation (EU) 2025/40, the PPWR?
Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 on packaging and packaging waste is a directly applicable EU regulation that amends Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904 and repeals Directive 94/62/EC. Its German title is Verordnung (EU) 2025/40 über Verpackungen und Verpackungsabfälle, and its French title is Règlement (UE) 2025/40 relatif aux emballages et aux déchets d'emballages. The Regulation is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States (Art. 71 final sentence), so the same article text applies in each of them from 12 August 2026.
How is the act identified in official sources? The five identifiers of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 are listed below.
- CELEX number: 32025R0040, the document number on EUR-Lex.
- Official Journal reference: OJ L, 2025/40, 22.1.2025, an act-by-act publication without a page number, never "OJ L 40".
- ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/40/oj, the European Legislation Identifier of the act.
- Legal basis: Article 114 TFEU, the internal-market basis of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
- Procedure: 2022/0396(COD), opened by the Commission proposal COM(2022) 677 of 30 November 2022.
Where is the official text of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 published?
The authentic text of the PPWR is its publication in the Official Journal, OJ L, 2025/40, 22.1.2025, available on EUR-Lex under the ELI http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/40/oj. The English version sits on the EUR-Lex page of Regulation (EU) 2025/40, next to the other language versions. Summaries, extracts and PDF copies on other websites are not the legal text; only the Official Journal publication is.
How should the act be cited? Cite it as Regulation (EU) 2025/40 with the reference OJ L, 2025/40, 22.1.2025, and cite each article with the act, for example Art. 24(1) PPWR. EUR-Lex lists one consolidated version, 02025R0040-20250122, which is the original text as of 24 October 2026. Each of the seven corrigenda has its own CELEX number, from 32025R0040R(01) to 32025R0040R(07).
How was Regulation (EU) 2025/40 adopted?
Regulation (EU) 2025/40 was adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure 2022/0396(COD), on the legal basis of Article 114 TFEU, from the Commission proposal COM(2022) 677 of 30 November 2022. The five steps from proposal to publication are listed below in date order.
- 30 November 2022: the Commission adopts proposal COM(2022) 677.
- 24 April 2024: the European Parliament adopts its first-reading position (T9-0318/2024).
- 16 December 2024: the Council adopts the act.
- 19 December 2024: the Parliament and the Council sign it, which is the date in the act's title.
- 22 January 2025: the act is published in OJ L, 2025/40, and it enters into force on 11 February 2025, the twentieth day after publication.
Each step is recorded in the Legislative Observatory file 2022/0396(COD). The signature date of 19 December 2024 identifies the act; it is neither the entry-into-force date nor the application date.
How Is the PPWR Legal Text Structured? 13 Chapters and 71 Articles
The PPWR has 188 recitals, 71 articles in 13 chapters and 13 annexes, and Article 3(1) alone holds 71 numbered definitions. Chapter VIII is the longest with 18 articles (Art. 40 to 57), while Chapters VI and X hold one article each. The table names each chapter and links the page that explains it: PPWR requirements for packaging, PPWR labelling requirements, PPWR compliance, PPWR reuse targets, plastic carrier bags under the PPWR, the PPWR EU declaration of conformity, packaging EPR under the PPWR, EU packaging waste, PPWR penalties and PPWR vs the Single-Use Plastics Directive.
| Chapter | Title | Articles | What it regulates | Explained on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | General provisions | Art. 1 to 4 | Subject matter, scope, definitions, free movement | See the section pages below |
| II | Sustainability requirements | Art. 5 to 11 | Substances, recyclability, recycled content, biobased feedstock, compostable packaging, minimisation, reusable packaging | PPWR requirements for packaging |
| III | Labelling, marking and information requirements | Art. 12 to 14 | Packaging labels, waste receptacle labels, environmental claims | PPWR labelling requirements |
| IV | General obligations | Art. 15 to 23 | Duties of manufacturers, suppliers, authorised representatives, importers, distributors and fulfilment service providers | PPWR compliance |
| V | Obligations of economic operators to reduce packaging and packaging waste | Art. 24 to 33 | Empty space ratio, Annex V restrictions, reusable packaging, re-use systems, refill, re-use targets | PPWR reuse targets |
| VI | Plastic carrier bags | Art. 34 | Consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags | plastic carrier bags under the PPWR |
| VII | Conformity of packaging | Art. 35 to 39 | Test methods, presumption of conformity, common specifications, conformity assessment, EU declaration of conformity | PPWR EU declaration of conformity |
| VIII | Management of packaging and of packaging waste | Art. 40 to 57 | Competent authorities, producer registers, EPR, PROs, collection, deposit and return systems, recycling targets, reporting | packaging EPR under the PPWR; EU packaging waste |
| IX | Safeguard procedures | Art. 58 to 62 | Packaging presenting a risk, Union safeguard procedure, controls on packaging entering the Union market, formal non-compliance | PPWR penalties |
| X | Green public procurement | Art. 63 | Minimum requirements for public contracts | |
| XI | Delegated powers and committee procedure | Art. 64, 65 | Exercise of the delegation, committee procedure | See the section pages below |
| XII | Amendments | Art. 66, 67 | Amendments to Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904 | PPWR vs the Single-Use Plastics Directive |
| XIII | Final provisions | Art. 68 to 71 | Penalties, evaluation, repeal and transitional provisions, entry into force and application |
What does Article 1 say the PPWR is for?
Article 1 of the PPWR sets life-cycle requirements on the environmental sustainability and labelling of packaging for placing on the market, and rules on extended producer responsibility, waste prevention, collection and treatment of packaging waste. The four objectives of Article 1 are listed below.
- Product rules: life-cycle requirements on the environmental sustainability and labelling of packaging placed on the market.
- Waste rules: extended producer responsibility, waste prevention including the reduction of unnecessary packaging, re-use and refill, and the collection and treatment of packaging waste, recycling included.
- Internal market: harmonised rules so that packaging moves freely between the Member States.
- Climate and waste policy: a contribution to climate neutrality by 2050 under Regulation (EU) 2021/1119, following the waste hierarchy of Article 4 of Directive 2008/98/EC.
What does the internal-market objective mean in practice? Article 4 answers it in two rules. Packaging may be placed on the market only if it complies with the PPWR (Art. 4(1)), and Member States may not prohibit, restrict or impede packaging that complies with Articles 5 to 12 (Art. 4(2)). Article 2(1) then applies the Regulation to all packaging, regardless of material, and to all packaging waste.
Which other EU acts does the PPWR amend?
Chapter XII of the PPWR amends two EU acts: Article 66 adds Directive (EU) 2019/904 and Regulation (EU) 2025/40 to Annex I of the Market Surveillance Regulation (EU) 2019/1020, and Article 67 amends the Single-Use Plastics Directive (EU) 2019/904. Article 66 lists the Directive as point 74 and the PPWR as point 75 of that Annex I, and it deletes point 8 of Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2019/1020.
Article 67 amends Directive (EU) 2019/904 (OJ L 155, 12.6.2019, p. 1) and does not repeal it. Article 67(5) extends Part B points 7 to 9 of its Annex to extruded polystyrene food containers, beverage containers and cups, and adds points 10 to 12 (luggage shrink wrap at airports and train stations, plastic chips that protect packed goods, multi-pack plastic rings), applying from 12 February 2029 under Art. 71 third paragraph. Article 67(2) and (3) delete Art. 6(5)(a), (b) and Art. 13(1)(e) of that Directive from 1 January 2030 or 3 years after the Art. 7(8) PPWR implementing act enters into force, whichever is later.
What Do the 13 Annexes of the PPWR Contain?
The 13 annexes of the PPWR hold the technical detail the articles refer to, from the indicative list of packaging items in Annex I to the correlation table with Directive 94/62/EC in Annex XIII. Annex I is indicative only: inclusion of an item in it does not make the item packaging, because the Art. 3(1)(1) definition decides (Commission Notice C/2026/3084). The table links PPWR Article 6 recyclability, PPWR compostable packaging, PPWR packaging minimisation, PPWR banned packaging formats, PPWR technical documentation, PPWR producer registration and reporting, and deposit return systems under the PPWR.
| Annex | Title | Article it serves | Explained on |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Indicative list of items in the scope of the definition of packaging | Art. 3(1)(1) | See the section pages below |
| II | Categories and parameters for assessment of recyclability of packaging; grades A (at least 95 %), B (at least 80 %), C (at least 70 %) | Art. 6 | PPWR Article 6 recyclability |
| III | Compostable packaging (conditions) | Art. 9 | PPWR compostable packaging |
| IV | Methodology for packaging minimisation assessment (8 criteria) | Art. 10 | PPWR packaging minimisation |
| V | Restrictions on use of packaging formats: 6 formats from 1 January 2030 | Art. 25 | PPWR banned packaging formats |
| VI | Requirements specific to re-use systems and refill stations | Art. 26 to 28 | |
| VII | Conformity assessment procedure: Module A internal production control, no notified body, no CE marking | Art. 38 | PPWR technical documentation |
| VIII | EU declaration of conformity (model structure) | Art. 39 | |
| IX | Information for registration and reporting to the register | Art. 44 | PPWR producer registration and reporting |
| X | Minimum requirements for deposit and return systems: 90 % separate collection by 1 January 2029 (Art. 50(1)) | Art. 50 | deposit return systems under the PPWR |
| XI | Implementation plan for a postponement of recycling targets | Art. 52(2)(d) | |
| XII | Data for the Member State databases on packaging and packaging waste | Art. 56, 57 | |
| XIII | Correlation table Directive 94/62/EC to Regulation (EU) 2025/40 | Art. 70(5) | See the section pages below |
Which Parts of the PPWR Legal Text Have Their Own Page?
Seven parts of the PPWR legal text are explained on their own pages: the scope, the Article 3 definitions, the transition from Directive 94/62/EC, the delegated and implementing acts, the Commission guidance, the harmonised standards and the rules for micro-enterprises. The table gives the PPWR scope, the PPWR definitions, PPWR vs the Packaging Directive 94/62/EC, PPWR delegated acts and implementing acts, PPWR guidance and FAQ, PPWR harmonised standards and the PPWR rules for micro-enterprises, each with the rule the text sets.
| Topic | What the legal text says | Articles | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | All packaging regardless of material, and all packaging waste | Art. 2, 4 | PPWR scope |
| Definitions | 71 numbered definitions; Annex I is indicative only | Art. 3, Annex I | PPWR definitions |
| Repeal of Directive 94/62/EC | Repealed with effect from 12 August 2026, with four carry-overs, the last ending 31 December 2029 | Art. 70, Annex XIII | PPWR vs the Packaging Directive 94/62/EC |
| Secondary legislation | Commission delegated and implementing acts; one delegated act adopted as of 24 October 2026 | Art. 64, 65 | PPWR delegated acts and implementing acts |
| Guidance | Commission Notice and FAQ, both non-binding | none | PPWR guidance and FAQ |
| Standards | Harmonised standards cited in the OJ or common specifications give a presumption of conformity for Art. 5 to 12, 24 and 26 | Art. 35 to 37 | PPWR harmonised standards |
| Micro-enterprises | Fewer than 10 persons and turnover or balance sheet total not above EUR 2 million (Recommendation 2003/361/EC); supplier as manufacturer; lighter report under 10 tonnes per Member State | Art. 3(1)(13)(b), 44(8) | PPWR rules for micro-enterprises |
Two of these rows carry dated mandates. The standardisation requests for compostable packaging were due 12 February 2026 (Art. 9(6)) and the request for minimisation is due 12 February 2027 (Art. 10(3)). Producers that make less than 10 tonnes of packaging available per calendar year in a Member State file a lighter report (Art. 44(8)), and no de minimis exemption from registration exists.
When Does Regulation (EU) 2025/40 Apply? The PPWR Timeline in Three Layers
Article 71 of the PPWR sets three dates: entry into force on 11 February 2025, general application from 12 August 2026, and application of Article 67(5) from 12 February 2029. Entry into force on the twentieth day after publication came before the first national task, the notification of competent authorities by 12 July 2025 (Art. 40(3)), while the general obligations apply from 12 August 2026. Directive 94/62/EC is repealed with effect from the same 12 August 2026, and Decision 97/129/EC follows with effect from 12 August 2028 (Art. 70(2)).
The table lists the dates of the act itself, from signature to the evaluation by 12 August 2034 (Art. 69). Each later product, EPR and waste obligation, from 2026 to 2040, is listed in the PPWR timeline.
| Date | What applies | Article | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 December 2024 | Signature; date of the act | Title of the act | Law |
| 22 January 2025 | Publication in OJ L, 2025/40 | Art. 71 | Law |
| 11 February 2025 | Entry into force | Art. 71 first paragraph | Law |
| 12 July 2025 | Member States notify their competent authorities to the Commission | Art. 40(3) | Law |
| 12 August 2026 | General application; Directive 94/62/EC repealed with carry-overs | Art. 71 second paragraph, Art. 70(1) | Law |
| 12 February 2027 | Member States lay down and notify penalty rules | Art. 68(1) | Law |
| 12 August 2028 | Decision 97/129/EC repealed | Art. 70(2) | Law |
| 12 February 2029 | Art. 67(5) applies (Annex Part B of Directive (EU) 2019/904) | Art. 71 third paragraph | Law |
| 31 December 2029 | Last carry-over of Directive 94/62/EC ends (minimisation requirement) | Art. 70(1)(b) | Law |
| 12 August 2034 | Commission evaluation of the Regulation | Art. 69 | Law |
Which PPWR dates depend on a Commission act?
Many PPWR obligations apply from a fixed date or a number of months after a Commission act, whichever is later, so a late act moves the obligation back. The Regulation uses three date mechanics: fixed dates, "whichever is later" dates and dates triggered only by an act.
Fixed dates apply whatever the Commission does. The Art. 5(5) PFAS limits for food-contact packaging apply from 12 August 2026, and the six Annex V format restrictions apply from 1 January 2030 (Art. 25(1)).
"Whichever is later" dates combine a fixed date with a period after a Commission act, in Art. 6(2), 7(1), 12(1), 24(1) and 30(4). Packaging below recyclability grade C may not be placed on the market from 1 January 2030 or 24 months after the Art. 6(4) delegated acts, whichever is later. The 50 % empty space ratio for grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging applies from 1 January 2030 or 3 years after the Art. 24(2) implementing acts, whichever is later. The harmonised material label applies from 12 August 2028 or 24 months after the Art. 12(6) implementing acts, whichever is the latest, so it applies from 12 August 2028 at the earliest (Art. 12(1)).
Act-triggered dates have no fixed date at all. National registers move to the harmonised format 18 months after the first Art. 44(14) implementing act (Art. 44(1)), and EPR fee modulation by recyclability grade applies 18 months after both the Art. 6(4) and the Art. 6(5) acts (Art. 6(8)).
The status of these acts decides when the dates run. The only adopted act is Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2026/429 of 25 February 2026 on pallet wrappings and straps (Art. 29(18)(a)), published in OJ L, 2026/429, 6.5.2026, and no PPWR implementing act exists as of 24 October 2026. The Art. 44(14) register-format act was due 12 February 2026 and is not adopted as of 24 October 2026; a draft has been published for feedback. The Art. 12(6) and 13(2) label acts were due 12 August 2026 and are overdue, and the Art. 7(9) and 7(10) acts are due 31 December 2026 and not adopted as of 24 October 2026. Each mandate and its status is tracked under PPWR delegated acts and implementing acts.
Has the PPWR Legal Text Been Amended or Corrected?
No amendment to Regulation (EU) 2025/40 is in force as of 24 October 2026: the only consolidated version on EUR-Lex is 02025R0040-20250122, the original text, while seven corrigenda and two amending proposals exist. A corrigendum corrects the published text of the act and is not an amendment. The two proposals, COM(2025) 982 and COM(2026) 590, are proposals only; neither changes the text until the Parliament and the Council adopt it and it is published in the Official Journal.
Which corrigenda to Regulation (EU) 2025/40 have been published?
Seven corrigenda to Regulation (EU) 2025/40 were published in the Official Journal between 22 May 2025 and 18 September 2026, numbered R(01) to R(07). The table lists each corrigendum with its publication date and OJ reference, oldest first.
| Corrigendum | Published | OJ reference |
|---|---|---|
| 32025R0040R(01) | 22 May 2025 | OJ L, 2025/90446, 22.5.2025 |
| 32025R0040R(02) | 9 September 2025 | OJ L, 2025/90697, 9.9.2025 |
| 32025R0040R(03) | 25 November 2025 | OJ L, 2025/90948, 25.11.2025 |
| 32025R0040R(04) | 28 November 2025 | OJ L, 2025/90971, 28.11.2025 |
| 32025R0040R(05) | 21 July 2026 | OJ L, 2026/90604, 21.7.2026 |
| 32025R0040R(06) | 4 August 2026 | OJ L, 2026/90654, 4.8.2026 |
| 32025R0040R(07) | 18 September 2026 | OJ L, 2026/90776, 18.9.2026 |
Four of the seven corrigenda date from 2025 and three from 2026, the most recent of 18 September 2026. Readers who work from a language version other than English check on EUR-Lex whether a corrigendum concerns that version before relying on its wording.
Which amending proposals are pending on 24 October 2026?
Two Commission proposals would amend the PPWR, and neither is law as of 24 October 2026: COM(2025) 982 would suspend Article 45(3), and COM(2026) 590 would delete Article 63. Article 45(3), the rule on the authorised representative for extended producer responsibility, applies since 12 August 2026.
COM(2025) 982, the Environmental Omnibus proposal of 10 December 2025 (procedure 2025/0395(COD)), would suspend the application of Art. 45(3) PPWR until 1 January 2035. It would also suspend Art. 56(3) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, the batteries rule covered on eubatteryregulation.com. The European Parliament adopted amendments on 20 October 2026 (T10-0345/2026) and referred the file back to the ENVI committee for interinstitutional negotiations, according to the Legislative Observatory. There is no first-reading position, and nothing is suspended as of 24 October 2026.
COM(2026) 590, the Public Procurement Act proposal of 9 September 2026 (procedure 2026/0265(COD)), proposes deleting Art. 63 PPWR on green public procurement. Until a deletion is adopted, Art. 63 stays law, and its implementing acts are due 12 February 2030. Separately, 12 actions for annulment of the PPWR were lodged before the General Court between March and April 2025: T-197/25 against the Commission and 11 cases in the series T-236/25 to T-249/25 against the Parliament and the Council. Each further stage of both proposals will appear in PPWR news.
How Does the PPWR Legal Text Work with National Law and Commission Guidance?
The PPWR is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all 27 Member States, so it needs no transposition, but it leaves national tasks such as naming competent authorities (Art. 40) and laying down penalties (Art. 68). Member States notified their competent authorities to the Commission by 12 July 2025 (Art. 40(3)), and they lay down and notify their penalty rules by 12 February 2027 (Art. 68(1)); the PPWR itself sets no fine amount. National registers, authorities and penalty rules are compared in PPWR in the 27 member states.
National law keeps its own role beside the Regulation. Producer registers stay national under Art. 44, and Member States may not block packaging that complies with Articles 5 to 12 (Art. 4(2)).
What the Commission Notice and FAQ add to the legal text
Commission Notice C/2026/3084 (OJ C, 10.6.2026) and the Commission's PPWR FAQ (DG ENV) are non-binding readings of the Regulation; where either differs from Regulation (EU) 2025/40, the Regulation wins and only the Court of Justice gives a binding interpretation. The Notice is the Commission's guidance document on the PPWR, and the Commission's PPWR FAQ (non-binding) answers operator questions section by section. Neither document amends an article or moves a date set in Art. 71.
PPWR legal text questions answered
Does the PPWR apply in Northern Ireland?
Yes, in part: under Commission Notice C/2025/946 (OJ C, 4.2.2025) the PPWR applies in Northern Ireland except Art. 23, 29 to 33, 34 and 56(1)(b) (conditional), 41 to 55, 56(1)(a), (c), (6), 57 and 63.
Does Directive 94/62/EC still apply?
Only in part: Directive 94/62/EC (OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 10) is repealed with effect from 12 August 2026, but four sets of its provisions continue under Art. 70(1)(a) to (d) PPWR, the minimisation requirement until 31 December 2029.
How long does the Commission's power to adopt PPWR delegated acts last?
Ten years from 11 February 2025, tacitly extended (Art. 64(2)); the Parliament and the Council have 2 months to object to each delegated act, extendable by 2 months (Art. 64(6)).
Which committee assists the Commission with PPWR implementing acts?
The committee of Article 39 of Directive 2008/98/EC, under the examination procedure (Art. 65 PPWR); the PPWR sets up no separate committee.
Sources
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2025/40
- European Parliament: oeil.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/en/procedure-file?reference=2022/0396(COD)
- EUR-Lex: publications.europa.eu/webapi/rdf/sparql
- EUR-Lex: CELEX 52025PC0982
- European Parliament: oeil.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/en/procedure-file?reference=2025/0395(COD)
- EUR-Lex: publications.europa.eu/resource/cellar/93796e70-ac61-11f1-b9e5-01aa75ed71a1
- EUR-Lex: CELEX 32026D0429
- EUR-Lex: Directive (EU) 2019/904
- EUR-Lex: CELEX 31994L0062
- EUR-Lex: CELEX 52026XC0308
- European Commission, environment: environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/faq-packaging-and-packaging-waste-regulation-ppwr_en
- EUR-Lex: CELEX 52025XC0094