Focus on… Finland

Changes for EPR – including new measures for distance sellers – as Finland begins waste management reform

On 19^th July 2021, the Finish Parliament adopted an Amendment of the Waste Act. This marks a first step towards broader reform of waste management in the country and the transposition of various EU waste legislation – for example, the Waste Directive.

The amended law also changes aspects of the extended producer responsibility regime, including:

• extension of producer obligation for distance sellers to cover all products and packaging under the scope of the Waste Act,
• possibility for e-commerce platforms to take over the producer obligation from their sellers,
• eco-modulation to be co-regulated by the government as an incentive to design more eco-friendly packaging and products, and
• strengthening information provision and record keeping obligations for producers to transpose Article 8a of Directive 2008/98/EC on waste.

The next stage of the reform will adopt decrees regulating waste streams, including packaging, batteries and electronics. These are currently being discussed in a public consultation.

Would you like to find out more about EPR in Finland? Finland is one of the countries covered by Landbell Group’s regulatory tracking service.

Find out more about the service here.