Focus on… the Philippines

New rules for plastic packaging in force

In August 2022, the Philippines enacted the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022 amending the Solid Waste Management Act RA9003. The new law introduces EPR rules for the management of plastic waste and mandates companies to establish EPR programs for their plastic packaging.

The EPR framework obliges large companies or producer responsibility organizations (PROs), which are considered as producers, to register and establish EPR programs to be submitted to the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC).

Micro, small, and medium enterprises are encouraged to fulfil EPR voluntarily or to participate in the producers’ network or PRO.

Producers are also obliged to meet the recovery targets or offset the plastic packaging footprint. Fulfilment of this duty is performed by sending an annual report to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The plastic packaging subject to EPR in the Philippines includes:

1. Sachets, labels, laminates and other flexible plastic packaging products
2. Rigid plastic packaging products, including their coverings, caps, or lids and other necessities or promotional items
3. Plastic bags, and
4. Polystyrene

The Philippines is one of the countries covered by Landbell Group’s regulatory tracking service. Find out more about the service here.