Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations, 2003 (S.I. No. 61 of 2003).

These Regulations replace the Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations, 1997 and are designed to promote the recovery of packaging waste. They are intended, in particular, to facilitate the achievement of the targets for the recovery of packaging waste established by Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste. In particular they: (a) provide for recovery of between 50 percent and 65 percent of packaging waste by weight; and (b) recycling of between 25 percent and 45 percent of packaging waste by weight in total, including 15 percent by weight for individual packaging materials. The Regulations impose obligations on producers who supply packaging (i.e. packaging materials, packaging or packaged goods) to the Irish market. An exemption from certain obligations is available to major producers who participate in a packaging waste recovery scheme operated by an approved body. The Regulations provide that a producer may not supply packaging or packaged products to the Irish market unless the packaging concerned complies with specified essential requirements as to its nature and composition. The Regulations also provide for limits on the concentration levels of certain heavy metals in packaging.