The transformation of the waste management system in July may significantly increase food prices

By: Trademagazin Date: 2023. 06. 05. 12:11

In recent years, in order to remedy the environmental protection problems related to the packaging of products, such as food, and to increase the efficiency of recycling, the so-called extended producer responsibility system (EPR) has been introduced in all member states, including Hungary, based on the guidance of an EU directive.

It is already a Hungarian peculiarity that from July 1, 2023, not the non-profit management organization established by the state or market players, but the concession company operated by MOL will collectively fulfill the necessary collection and utilization tasks on behalf of the manufacturers. The market participants would have considered it more efficient and cheaper to operate the tasks on a market basis in accordance with international practice. For this reason, the food manufacturers also continuously indicated their concerns regarding the concession plans to the domestic legislators. Unfortunately, their fears already seem to be confirmed, because in addition to the questionability of the effective functionality of the concession solution, it will be a big blow for the manufacturers that from July 1, the amount of the environmental protection product fee paid for this purpose will be multiple times, 3-5 times, in some cases even They will have to pay 10 times as much for each packaging material.

Professional organizations representing manufacturers were also not involved in the development of the fee rates, so it is not clear to the cost bearers on what basis the new fee rates were determined, and consequently it is also not clear whether the European Union directive applies, according to which only the actual, justified costs may be included in the fee.