Tracker
Packaging Regulation Tracker
Our database of packaging rules worldwide: extended producer responsibility, plastic taxes, bans, recycled-content and reuse targets, labelling and deposit return schemes. Each rule links to its official source and shows when it applies.
By Thomas Müller
Latest source consulted 12 October 2026
Status: Live 79 rules sourced from official texts; 0 re-checked by a second analyst so far. How this tracker works
In short
As of 12 October 2026, Strategic Packaging Insights tracks 79 packaging rules in 25 jurisdictions: 58 in force and 15 adopted but not yet applying. They include 25 EPR schemes, 4 packaging taxes, 17 bans and 6 recycled-content rules. Next deadline: Scotland deposit return scheme start moved to October 2027 (Scotland, United Kingdom) on 1 October 2027.
Key facts
Packaging regulation at a glance
- Packaging EPR in force: United States, Germany, Vietnam, India, United Kingdom, Canada, Kenya, Brazil, Philippines, Colombia, Japan, Chile and South Africa.
- Spain special tax on non-reusable plastic packaging: 0.45 EUR/kg (Spain).
- UK Plastic Packaging Tax: 228.82 GBP/tonne (United Kingdom).
- EU plastic own resource on non-recycled plastic packaging waste: 0.8 EUR/kg (European Union).
- 2 rules take effect in the next 12 months.
- Latest change: California SB 343 recyclability labelling restrictions, California, United States (4 October 2026).
Upcoming compliance deadlines
Rules already adopted whose obligations start on a future date, soonest first.
| Applies from | Rule | Where | Type | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 2027 | Scotland deposit return scheme start moved to October 2027 | Scotland, United Kingdom | Deposit return | Plastic, Metal |
| 1 Oct 2027 | Deposit return scheme for drinks containers (England and Northern Ireland) | England, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom | Deposit return | Plastic, Metal |
| 12 Aug 2028 | PPWR: harmonised material-composition sorting label | European Union | Labelling | All packaging |
| 1 Jan 2029 | PPWR: 90% separate collection of beverage containers (deposit systems) | European Union | Deposit return | Plastic, Metal |
| 1 Jan 2030 | PPWR: all packaging recyclable by 2030 | European Union | Design rule | All packaging |
| 1 Jan 2030 | PPWR: maximum 50% empty space in grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging | European Union | Design rule | All packaging |
| 1 Jan 2030 | PPWR: restrictions on certain single-use plastic packaging formats | European Union | Ban | Single-use plastic |
| 1 Jan 2030 | PPWR: 2030 reuse targets for transport, sales and grouped packaging | European Union | Reuse target | All packaging |
| 1 Jan 2030 | PPWR: 2030 minimum recycled content in plastic packaging | European Union | Recycled content | Plastic |
| 1 Jan 2040 | PPWR: 2040 minimum recycled content in plastic packaging | European Union | Recycled content | Plastic |
Jurisdictions
Open a jurisdiction for every rule in force, the deadlines ahead and the full timeline.
| Jurisdiction | Rules | In force | EPR | Taxes | Bans | Next deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | 18 | 6 | — | 1 | 1 | 12 Aug 2028 |
| United States | 13 | 9 | Yes | 0 | 3 | — |
| United Kingdom | 7 | 5 | Yes | 1 | 2 | 1 Oct 2027 |
| Canada | 6 | 6 | Yes | 0 | 2 | — |
| India | 4 | 4 | Yes | 0 | 1 | — |
| China | 3 | 3 | — | 0 | 1 | — |
| France | 3 | 3 | — | 0 | 1 | — |
| Australia | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Colombia | 2 | 2 | Yes | 0 | 1 | — |
| Germany | 2 | 2 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| Japan | 2 | 2 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| Kenya | 2 | 2 | Yes | 0 | 1 | — |
| New Zealand | 2 | 1 | — | 0 | 1 | — |
| Spain | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 0 | — |
| Austria | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Brazil | 1 | 1 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| Chile | 1 | 1 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| Indonesia | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ireland | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Philippines | 1 | 1 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| Poland | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Portugal | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| South Africa | 1 | 1 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| United Arab Emirates | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 1 | — |
| Vietnam | 1 | 1 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
1 matching rules
Download these 1 rules (CSV) Includes sources, quotes and dates. Please cite Strategic Packaging Insights.
Federal Plastics Registry reporting (CEPA s.46 notice)
SPI summary Producers of plastic products, including packaging, must report quantities placed on the Canadian market under a CEPA section 46 notice, starting in September 2025 on 2024 data. Phase 2 and 3 reporting has been postponed and a new notice covering 2027-2029 is planned.
From the source “Reporting for Phases 2 and 3 of the Federal Plastics Registry has been postponed.”
Materials: Plastic
Source consulted 12 Oct 2026 · History (1)
- Added
Latest changes to the tracker
Rules added, changed, verified or removed, newest first. Each rule keeps its full history.
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About this tracker
- Purpose
- To show packaging teams which rules on packaging and packaging waste apply where, from when, and at what rate, with the official text one click away.
- Coverage
- 79 rules in 25 jurisdictions: extended producer responsibility, packaging taxes, bans, recycled-content and reuse targets, labelling, deposit return, design and reporting rules. Coverage is growing and is not complete for any jurisdiction.
- Data sources
- Official journals and gazettes, legislatures, ministries, regulators and the bodies that run each scheme. Each rule names its source, links to it and quotes it.
- Methodology
- An analyst finds the rule in its source, records the facts (authority, dates, rate, materials) and copies a short quote. The SPI summary and SPI note are our reading of the source and are labelled. A second analyst can then re-check the rule against the source; it is then marked Verified. Any later change to the facts sends it back to Sourced and is logged in its history.
- Limitations
- Not legal advice. 0 of 79 rules have had a second check so far. Rates and dates can change after the date a source was consulted, and secondary legislation, guidance and local rules may not be listed. Always rely on the official text.
- Access
- Free to read and to download as CSV, with weekly change alerts by e-mail. For a mapping of the rules to your own products and markets, request a briefing.
- Corrections
- Found an error or a missing rule? Write to sales@strategicpackaginginsights.com with the rule ID and the source. Corrections are logged in the rule history.
Questions
Which countries have packaging EPR?
Among the jurisdictions we track, packaging EPR is in force in United States, Germany, Vietnam, India, United Kingdom, Canada, Kenya, Brazil, Philippines, Colombia, Japan, Chile and South Africa. Each jurisdiction page lists the scheme, the authority and the dates.
Which countries tax plastic packaging?
Packaging taxes in force among tracked jurisdictions: Spain special tax on non-reusable plastic packaging (Spain, 0.45 EUR/kg), UK Plastic Packaging Tax (United Kingdom, 228.82 GBP/tonne) and EU plastic own resource on non-recycled plastic packaging waste (European Union, 0.8 EUR/kg).
What are the next packaging compliance deadlines?
Scotland deposit return scheme start moved to October 2027, Scotland, United Kingdom (1 October 2027), Deposit return scheme for drinks containers (England and Northern Ireland), England, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (1 October 2027), PPWR: harmonised material-composition sorting label, European Union (12 August 2028), PPWR: 90% separate collection of beverage containers (deposit systems), European Union (1 January 2029) and PPWR: all packaging recyclable by 2030, European Union (1 January 2030).
What are the rows in this tracker based on?
Each rule links to the source it was taken from, usually the legal text in an official journal or gazette or the page of the ministry, regulator or agency that runs it, with a short quote from that source. No rule has been re-checked by a second analyst yet, so every rule is marked Sourced. Rules that pass a second check will be marked Verified. Always confirm against the linked text before relying on a rule.
What is the difference between the source quote and the SPI summary?
The quote is copied from the official source. The SPI summary and any SPI note are our own reading of it, written in plain language, and are labelled as such.
What do the statuses mean?
Enacted rules are law: in force (applies now), adopted (passed, but obligations start later), expired or withdrawn. Proposed rules are formal proposals or drafts that are not yet law.
Is this legal advice?
No. The tracker summarises official texts so you can see what applies and when. Always check the linked legal text, or ask us for a compliance briefing for your products and markets.
How current is a row, and what changed?
Each rule shows the date its source was consulted and a history of every change made to it since it was added. New and changed rules are added as we find them; there is no fixed review cycle yet.
Which rules apply to your packs?
Tell us your products, materials and markets. An analyst maps the obligations, fees and deadlines that apply, with every source.