Materials

The European Commission has approved Germany’s deposit system for cans and bottles after finding a revised version of the scheme is working properly.

The commission was called on to decide whether the scheme, which imposes a mandatory €0.25 deposit on one-way packaging for mineral waters, beers and soft drinks, constituted a barrier to trade for importers.

Problems with the scheme, which was introduced in 2003, arose because retailers were only required to accept returns of packaging of the exact type, shape and size as they had in their own stock.

However, changes introduced in 2006 mean retailers now have to accept one-way drinks packaging of the same material as their stock, and the commission is happy that this is working successfully.