Implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility obligations on tobacco filters containing plastic in line with the Single Use Plastic Directive

CONSULTATION BRIEF

Start date: 02 September 2024

Closing date: 30 September 2024

Title of the public consultation: Implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility obligations on tobacco filters containing plastic in line with the Single Use Plastic Directive

Ministry: Ministry for Environment, Energy and Regeneration of the Grand Harbour (MEER)

Entity: Environment and Resources Authority (ERA)

 

  1. Background

In June 2019, the EU adopted Directive (EU) 2019/904 on the reduction on the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (known as Single Use Plastic or SUP Directive). The SUP Directive targets the most commonly found single-use plastic (SUP) items on European beaches as well as fishing gear and oxo-degradable plastics through different measures tailored to achieve the most effective results.

Such measures include market restrictions, separate collection for recycling targets, consumption reduction measures, marking and other product requirements and new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations, such as for tobacco products with filters containing plastic, including plastic filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products.

While the transposition of the SUP Directive has been completed at the national level, the implementation on the ground of EPR provisions with respect to tobacco filters containing plastic requires the enactment of new national legislation.

The draft LN establishes the national mechanism whereby all producers placing on the Maltese market tobacco products with filters containing plastic, and also plastic filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products bear financial responsibility for the post-consumer waste management of these products through a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO). Particularly, such EPR cost are clean-up litter, appropriate waste receptacles in Malta (particularly in common litter hot spots), awareness raising measures, data gathering and reporting.

Furthermore, targeted amendments to the Single-Use Plastic Framework Regulations (S.L. 549.149) were needed as to remove any reference to the setting up of an EPR for tobacco products in view of that this specific LN will be introduced.

 

  1. Consultation

In line with article 55 of the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549), the public is invited to make submissions to ERA with their comments as to why and how these regulations could be amended.

 

  1. Documents

Extended Producer Responsibility (Tobacco Filters Containing Plastic) Regulations, 2024

Regolamenti tal-2024 dwar ir-Responsabbiltà Estiża tal-Produttur (Filtri tat-Tabakk li fihom il-Plastik)

 

Single-Use Plastic Framework (Amendment) Regulations, 2024

Regolamenti tal-2024 li jemendaw ir-Regolamenti dwar Qafas għall-Prodotti tal-Plastik li Jintużaw Darba Biss

 

  1. Submission of feedback

Comments are being invited through the feedback form at publicconsultation.gov.mt or otherwise by email through [email protected].

 

  1. Further notes

Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the end of the public consultation, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data. In this case, the contribution may be published in anonymous form.

All comments submitted shall be duly considered.