What happened?
Verpact — the organisation responsible for extended producer responsibility for packaging in the Netherlands — announced a temporary 'pause button' (stand-still) on 21 July 2026 for three types of packaging: shipping packaging, service packaging and primary production packaging. For this category specifically, Verpact asks companies to keep following the current situation for now, even after 12 August 2026 — the date the PPWR becomes generally applicable.
Note: the pause applies only to these three types of packaging. The rest of the PPWR continues along the familiar timeline.
Why a pause?
The reason is uncertainty about one central question: who qualifies as the 'manufacturer' of these packaging types under the PPWR? That answer determines who is responsible for the obligations attached to it — declaring packaging volumes, drawing up the declaration of conformity and paying the associated costs. Right now, several interpretations exist side by side in the market.
Because the PPWR is a European regulation that applies directly and equally in all member states, there should be no doubt about this division of roles. Verpact has therefore asked the European Commission for an unambiguous interpretation and, until then, has opted for a stand-still. This creates more certainty in the short term and prevents Dutch companies from being treated more or less strictly than companies in neighbouring countries.
What does this mean for your business in practice?
The pause changes nothing about current practice. In short:
- Were you already filing declarations for these packaging types before 12 August 2026? Simply continue as usual.
- Weren't you filing yet? Then you don't have to do anything new during the pause; you keep your existing status.
- The declaration of conformity remains the responsibility of every manufacturer regardless, and falls outside the pause.
Watch out: possible retroactive effect
This is the most important thing to remember: the pause button is not an exemption, but a postponement. Once the European Commission provides clarity on who the manufacturer is, this may have consequences with retroactive effect to 12 August 2026. Producers declare packaging volumes in the first quarter of 2027; Verpact may then request corrected declarations, potentially resulting in a financial adjustment.
In other words: anyone who 'does nothing for now' is formally correct, but is building up an uncertain cost that only becomes visible in 2027. That is not something you want to be surprised by.
Our advice
Even though you formally don't have to change anything now, use this period to properly record your packaging flows. Map out which shipping, service and primary production packaging you place on the market, and in what volumes. Only with that administration in order will you be able to file a correct declaration with retroactive effect later — once the interpretation is clear — without surprises.
For shipping packaging, the broader PPWR movement also plays a role: minimisation, recyclability and the reuse targets for transport packaging. Now that you're mapping those flows anyway, it pays to look at where reusable transport makes sense logistically and financially.
Explore our reusable transport solutions arrow_forward
Not yet fully up to speed on the PPWR? In our article 'What is the PPWR?' we explain the entire regulation and timeline clearly.
Read: What is the PPWR? arrow_forward
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Source: Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (EUR-Lex)
Sources: Verpact — nieuwsbericht pauzeknop (21 juli 2026) · Verpact — FAQ pauzeknop