Law on packaging and packaging waste management. Country/Territory North Macedonia Document type Legislation Date 2021 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Environment gen., Waste & hazardous substances Keyword Pollution control Protection of environment Waste management Bioenergy Processing/handling Packaging/labelling Recycling/reuse Waste prevention Inspection Internal trade International trade Offences/penalties Solid waste Waste disposal Geographical area Europe, Europe and Central Asia, Landlocked Developing Nations, Southern Europe Entry into force notes This text entered into force on 24 September 2021. Abstract This Law regulates the requirements for protection of environment and human health that should be met by packaging during production, placing on the market and handling of packaging waste that covers the obligations of economic operators and other entities participating in related processes. This text defines necessary procedural rules and obligations as regards the production and placing on the market of packaging, requirements for collection, reuse, processing, recycling and disposal, as well as other conditions for handling packaging waste, reporting and economic instruments for achieving the objectives of collection, processing and recycling of such packaging. Main goals of this Law are: reduction of the negative impact of packaging and packaging waste on environment and human health; promotion of environmental protection standards by economic operators during the life cycle of packaging, and in particular treatment, reuse, processing and disposal of packaging waste. In addition to these basic objectives, the following goals should be achieved: to prevent the generation of packaging waste; to reduce and limit the use of harmful metals and substances and other toxins substances in the packaging, and thus achieve a reduction in the toxicity of the waste from packaging; to achieve a separate collection of packaging waste at its place creation; to achieve a high level of reuse, recycling and other types of processing of packaging waste, thereby reducing the disposal of wastes deriving from packaging; to provide favorable conditions for the establishment and development of the market of related reuse, recycling and other ways of processing of packaging waste; to ensure the functioning of the market without barriers to trade and ensuring an equal position on the market of domestic and foreign legal entities and individuals, as well as avoiding trade barriers that may disrupt the necessary market competition; to reduce energy consumption and use of primary raw materials in the production of packaging and encouraging the treatment of packaging waste; to encourage the use of the best available treatment technologies, processing and recycling of packaging waste; to encourage the production of reusable packaging that is biodegradable. The packaging in terms of its convenience for processing of materials that are used, should meet the following requirements: 1) packaging that can be recycled through recycling operations made in such a way that when it becomes packaging waste it will be possible to recycle a certain weight percentage of materials used in the manufacture of the product that are intended for sale, in accordance with applicable standards (determining this percentage may vary depending on the type of material of the package); 2) packaging that can be processed through energy operation processing, when it becomes packaging waste should have a minimum caloric value to enable optimal energy production; 3) packaging that can be processed through composting operations, must be made in such a way that when it becomes packaging waste there is biodegradable property that will not interfere with the individual collection and processing of composting or other activity in which it is involved; 4) packaging produced from biodegradable materials must be made in such a way that when it becomes packaging waste it is of such nature that it can be subjected to physical, chemical, thermal or biological decomposition so that most of the final compost will decompose into carbon dioxide, biomass and water. In terms of this point, oxo-degradable plastic packaging is not considered biodegradable. Full text Macedonian Website www.moepp.gov.mk References - Legislation Repeals Law on packaging management and packaging waste. Legislation | North Macedonia | 2009 Keyword: Data collection/reporting, Hazardous substances, Internal trade, International trade, Packaging/labelling, Offences/penalties, Pollution control, Procedural matters, Processing/handling, Protection of environment, Recycling/reuse, Sustainable development, Waste disposal, Waste domestic sources, Waste management, Waste non-domestic sources, Waste prevention Source: FAO, FAOLEX Implemented by Regulation on biodegradability standards to be met by bags for carrying goods, the manner of placing on the market of biodegradable bags by traders, as well as the form and content of the record keeping form. Legislation | North Macedonia | 2021 Keyword: Processing/handling, Pollution control, Data collection/reporting, Standards, Waste management, Waste prevention Source: FAO, FAOLEX