The scope of the professional packaging scheme is being extended

The new Professional Packaging EPR scheme will be operational as of 1 July 2026. In the meantime, up to 30 June, the existing catering packaging scheme remains in force. In this article, we explain the implications of this new regulation.

The scope of the professional packaging scheme is being extended

The new Professional Packaging EPR scheme will be operational as of 1 July 2026. In the meantime, up to 30 June, the existing catering packaging scheme remains in force. In this article, we explain the implications of this new regulation.

Published on February 20, 2026 - Updated on May 19, 2026

N.B

since 2023, all producers that place more than 10,000 units of packaged products on the market have been required to make an annual declaration of the quantities of professional packaging they place on the market.

Find out more about this declaration

Provisions in force up to 30 June 2026

Which products are concerned by this scheme?   

The products concerned are all types of sales packaging and packaging for primary food products consumed or used specifically by professionals operating a food services business. The packaged products must have a mass or volume strictly greater than the thresholds stipulated in the annex of the order defining the scope dated 20 July 2023.

Which producer responsibility organisations are accredited for this scheme?

Citeo Pro is the only accredited producer responsibility organisation. 

How do you know whether you come under the professional packaging EPR scheme? 

The producers concerned by the food services packaging EPR scheme are: “Any person that, in a professional capacity, packs their products or has their products packed for the purpose of placing them on the market, any importer whose products are marketed in packaging or, if the producer or importer cannot be identified, the person responsible for the first placing on the market of such products”.

It is not the packaging manufacturer who is considered to be the producer, but rather the person who packages the products. 

How do you meet your obligations as a producer within this scheme?  

If you are a producer of food services packaging, you must either join the producer responsibility organisation Citéo Pro or submit an application to set up an individual compliance scheme as soon as possible. 

Provisions applicable as of 1 July 2026 

Which products are concerned by this scheme?  

The order defining the scope dated 2 December 2025 specifies the types of packaging concerned. Packaging that is already covered by another EPR scheme does not come under the professional packaging scheme.  

Which producer responsibility organisations are accredited for this scheme?

The producer responsibility organisations to be accredited are not yet known.  Candidates must submit their applications for examination by the public authorities by 28 February 2026, in order to be accredited as of 1 July. 

How do you know whether you come under the professional packaging EPR scheme? 

You can read the definition of ‘producer’ applicable within this scheme in point 15 of article 3 of regulation (EU) 2025/40. We will provide further information on how this definition is to be interpreted very soon.

How do you meet your obligations as a producer within this scheme?  

Producers of professional packaging will have to:  

To keep you informed, we will post the names of the producer responsibility organisations on our page dedicated to the professional packaging EPR scheme as soon as they have been accredited. 

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