Single-use plastic restrictions

Hungary has implemented the Directive 2019/904/EU (SUP Directive) by the 3 July 2021 deadline. The amending provisions providing the legal framework of the restriction adopted with Act XCI of 2020 on the restriction of the placing on the market of certain single-use plastics. The detailed rules are in the Government Decree 301/2021. (VI. 1.) on the restriction of the placing on the market of certain single-use plastics. In addition to the SUP Directive, in Government Decree 301/2021. (VI. 1.) also prohibits the placing on the market of the following products:

• -        lightweight plastic carrier bags with a wall thickness of between 15 and 50 microns (expect those made of biodegradable plastic) from 1 July 2021,

• -        single-use cups for beverages made of plastic (which includes paper cups with plastic coating) from 1 January 2024.

In order to transpose further provisions of the SUP Directive (for example: marking and product requirements, awareness raising measures) Government Decree No. 349/2021 (VI. 22.) on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment entered into force on 3 July 2021.

In order to reduce the consumption of plastic carrier bags and reach the target set out in Directive 94/62/EC (PPWD) beyond the above mentioned ban the environmental product fee (defined in Act LXXXV of 2011 on the environmental product fee) increased significantly for plastic carrier bags not banned from 1 July 2021:

• -        from HUF 57/kg to HUF 1 900/kg for plastic carrier bags with a wall thickness of less than 15 microns, and
• -        from HUF 0/kg to HUF 500/kg for all biodegradable plastic carrier bags,
• -        for plastic carrier bags with a wall thickness above 50 microns, the product fee unchanged at HUF 1900/kg.