John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 393: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to ensure that food producers and processors reduce the amount of packaging used on food products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10101/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government gives a clear commitment to the implementation of effective waste management policies based on the international waste hierarchy which places greatest emphasis on waste prevention, minimisation and reuse. We must continue to reduce our reliance on landfill and this requires an intensive focus on the upper tiers of the waste hierarchy.

Policy and legislation on packaging waste, both at national and European level, is based on the principles of minimising harm to the environment while maximising the efficient use of resources. In this context, my Department is involved in ongoing discussions with the retail sector with a view to developing proposals on packaging waste prevention as part of a wider agreement aimed at addressing that sector's environmental responsibilities. It is envisaged that an agreement will be concluded by the end of 2010.

There are already legal requirements in place in relation to packaging waste. Article 9 of Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste provides that packaging may not be placed on the market within the European Union unless it complies with the essential requirements as to the composition and the reusable and recoverable nature of packaging as provided for in Annex II to that Directive. Article 28 of the Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations 2007 gives legal effect to the essential requirements of packaging in Ireland.

In broad terms, the essential requirements provide that packaging must be prevented so that only the minimum amount necessary is used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery and presentation of goods. Furthermore, packaging must be recoverable - either by means of material recycling, energy recovery, composting or by biodegradation. Under article 18 of the Directive, Member States are prohibited from impeding the placing on the market of packaging which satisfies these essential requirements.