Filipino exporters shipping packaged products to Europe face new compliance requirements as the European Union begins enforcing the first provisions of its Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, raising the stakes for businesses seeking to protect their access to the bloc’s vast consumer market.

The regulation, formally known as Regulation (EU) 2025/40, began applying its initial requirements on 12 August 2026, with further obligations set to take effect gradually until 2040.

Replacing the previous Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, the new framework establishes directly applicable rules across EU member states covering packaging design, composition, recyclability, documentation and producer responsibility.

Packaging entering EU

The rules cover packaging entering the EU market regardless of where it was produced. This includes primary packaging such as bottles, boxes and bags, as well as multipacks, transport materials and components including labels, tapes and seals.

Exporters may need to review whether their packaging uses unnecessary materials or empty space, complies with substance restrictions and contains the required identification and traceability information.

Companies must also prepare and retain compliance documents, with record-keeping periods reaching five years for single-use packaging and 10 years for reusable packaging.

Depending on the market and business structure, firms may also face registration, reporting and fee obligations under Extended Producer Responsibility schemes. Exporters without an EU presence could be required to appoint an authorized representative.

Impact extends beyond packaging manufacturers DHL warned that the impact of the regulation extends beyond packaging manufacturers.

“Compliance is not limited to packaging manufacturers; it also affects exporters, e-commerce sellers, brand owners, and supply chain operators,” the company said.

Businesses were advised to begin reviewing their EU-bound packaging and collecting compliance documents from suppliers, as failure to meet the new requirements could lead to penalties, operational disruptions and possible restrictions on market access.