Government Decree on fishing gear containing plastic (No. 1319 of 2022).

The present Government Decree contains provisions regarding requirements for fishing gear containing plastic, which complement the Waste Act (646/2011) and are necessary for the implementation of European Parliament and Council Directive (EU) 2019/904 on reducing the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. The Decree aims to reduce the environmental impact of plastic pollution from fishing gear by regulating the use, collection, and recycling of such gear. Producers of fishing gear containing plastic are collectively responsible for ensuring that a minimum of 10% by weight of the gear they place on the market is collected and recycled annually. Producers must establish or support a network of at least 150 collection points for the separate collection of plastic-containing fishing gear and must monitor and report on the amount of plastic fishing gear collected and recycled to demonstrate compliance with the decree. The decree outlines enforcement measures, including inspections and penalties, to ensure compliance with its requirements.