The European Union's packaging and packaging waste directive 94/62/EC (1994), adopted on 20 December 1994, [1] deals with the problems of packaging waste and the currently permitted heavy metal content in packaging.
The directive obligates member states of the European Union (EU) to meet targets for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste. The directive covers all packaging placed on the market in the European Community, [1] : Article 2 as the EU then was. Targets are set as a percentage of packaging flowing into the waste stream.
The directive:
It was noted in the directive that European Community health, safety and transportation measures already applied to packaging, and the packaging directive was not intended to detract from those measures. [1] : Article 2
An earlier directive, 85/339/EC, was repealed by this measure. [1] : Article 23
In November 2022, the European Commission proposed an EU regulation to replace the directive, along with a communication to clarify the labels biobased, biodegradable, and compostable. [2]