This article is a brief rundown of the key legislative issues facing the vending industry at the moment. EVA members can of course login to our website in order to consult the latest EU Newsletter with further details and articles.
Commission reveals its ‘European Green Deal.’
The EU recently set out its European Green Deal, which aims to reset the Commission’s commitment to tackling climate and environmental-related challenges.
The European Green Deal is a new growth strategy that aims to transform the EU into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050. It also aims to protect the health and well-being of citizens from environment-related risks and impacts.
While undoubtedly for now a high level strategy, it should nevertheless be seen as the flagship policy of the new Commission. The EVA therefore expects an eventual impact on vending, which could include a (further) tightening of future rules around (re-)use of resources in manufacturing, perhaps energy efficiency measures for hot drinks machines, and even more emphasis on material recycling.
Plastic cups banned in France since 1 January; vending cups from July 2021.
Single use plastic plates, cups, straws and other products were banned in France as of 1 January as part of the new law requiring a total ban on disposable plastics by 2040.
To summarise the requirements relevant for vending:
– Since January 1, 2020, plastic stirrers are prohibited from being placed on the market.
– Since January 1, 2020, ‘non-packaging’ cups made entirely of plastic are prohibited from being placed on the market, without any grace period.
– The packaging cup made entirely of plastic remains authorised for sale until 3 July 2021, from which date it will be also banned. Vending cups are currently classed as ‘packaging’ in France as the cup is often dispensed with the hot drink.
Ecodesign & Energy Labelling Regulations enter force.
The new Regulations on Ecodesign & Energy Labelling impacting refrigerated vending machines officially entered force on 25th December 2019.
The final versions of the Regulations were approved by the EU Institutions in the summer, and will progressively ban the least efficient chilled vending machines as of 1 March 2021 and 1 September 2023. An energy label will also be required to be placed on relevant machines as of 1 March 2021.
Now the final Regulations have entered force, the EVA requests manufacturers to send us machine Energy Efficiency Indexes and Energy labelling classes, so a final and accurate overview of the industry impact can be determined.
The EVA will furthermore be continuing communication in 2020, to ensure the consequences of the withdrawal of the Energy Measurement Protocol (EMP) 3.1a is fully understood, and the required action on websites, brochures and tenders has been taken.
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