Activities of Liadh NÍ RIADA related to 2018/0172(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment
Amendments (28)
Amendment 35 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5 a) In Union waters in the North West Atlantic, 73% of deep sea fish have been contaminated by marine litter illustrating the threat posed by plastics to marine ecosystems,
Amendment 39 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) To focus efforts where they are most needed, this Directive should only cover the most commonly found single-use plastics products, which are estimated to represent around 86% of the single-use plastics found, in counts, on beaches in the Union, and also fishing gear. The transition to a circular economy will necessitate a reduction in the overall use of single use plastic.
Amendment 47 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) With regard to single-use plastic products for which there are no readily available suitable and more sustainable alternatives at present, Member States should, in line with the polluter pays principle, also introduce extended producer responsibility schemes to cover the costs of waste management and clean-up of litter as well as the costs of awareness-raising measures to prevent and reduce such litter.
Amendment 53 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The large portion of plastic stemming from abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear containing plastic in marine litter indicates that the existing legal requirements46 do not provide sufficient incentives to return such fishing gear to shore for collection and treatment. The indirect fee system envisaged under Union law on port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships takes away the incentive for ships to discharge their waste at sea, and ensures a right of delivery. That system should, however, be supplemented by further financial incentives for fishermen to bring their fishing gear waste, as well as lost or discarded fishing gear found at sea, on shore to avoid any potential increase in the indirect waste fee to be paid. As plastic components of fishing gear have a high recycling potential, Member States should, in line with the polluter pays principle, introduce extended producer responsibility for fishing gear containing plastic to facilitate separate collection of waste fishing gear and to finance sound waste management of such fishing gear, in particular recycling. _________________ 46 Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, Directive 2000/59/EC and Directive 2008/98/EC.
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17 a) Whilst the fishers themselves and artisanal makers of fish gear containing plastic should not be covered by the extended producers responsibility there should be consideration for supporting the introduction of sustainably sourced fish gear containing no plastic as an alternative.
Amendment 64 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) Pursuant to paragraph 22 of the Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on Better Law-Making of 13 April 201648 , the Commission should carry out an evaluation of this Directive. That evaluation should be based on experience gathered and data collected during the implementation of this Directive and data collected under Directive 2008/56/EC or Directive 2008/98/EC. The evaluation should provide the basis for an assessment of possible further measures and an assessment whether, in view of monitoring of marine litter in the Union, the Annex listing single-use plastic products needs to be reviewed. The evaluation should also consider whether scientific and technical progress that has taken place in the meantime, including the development of biodegradable materials and the development of criteria or a standard for biodegradability of plastics in the marine environment, as foreseen in the European Plastics Strategy, allows the setting of a standard for biodegradation of certain single-use plastic products in the marine environment. That standard would include a standard to test if, as a result of physical and biological decomposition in the marine environment, plastics would fully decompose into carbon dioxide (CO2), biomass and water within a timescale short enough for the plastics not to be harmful for marine life and not lead to an accumulation of plastics in the environment. If that is the case, single-use plastic products that meet such a standard could be exempted from the prohibition on placing on the market. While the European Strategy for Plastics already envisages action in this area, it also recognises the challenges in relation to determining a regulatory framework for plastics with biodegradable properties due to different marine conditions across seas in order to expand the list of single use plastic items. There should be no consideration of biodegradability in reviewing the annex. _________________ 48 OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1.
Amendment 69 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
The objective of this Directive is to prevent and significantly reduce the impact of certain plastic productplastics on the environment, in particular the aquatic environment, and on human health, as well as to promote the transition to a circular economy with innovative business models,through a reduction in productsion and materials, thus also contributing to the efficient functioning of the inconsumption of single use plastics, with sustainable business models, products and maternial markets.
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 1
(1) 'plastic' means a material consisting of a polymer within the meaning of Article 3(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, to which additives or other substances may have been added, and which can function as a main structural component of final products, with the exception of natural polymers that have not been chemically modified;
Amendment 77 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 10
(10) 'producer' means any natural or legal person that, manufactures, processes, treats, sells or imports single-use plastic products or fishing gear containing plastic as understood in Article 8(1) of Directive 2008/98. A producer may be qualified as such irrespective of the selling technique used, including distance contracts within the meaning of Directive 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 201150 , places on the market single-use plastic products and fishing gear containing plastic except persons carrying out fishing activities as defined in Article 4(28) of Regulation (EC) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council51 ; _________________ 50 Directive 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on consumer rights, amending Council Directive 93/13/EEC and Directive 1999/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directive 85/577/EEC and Directive 97/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 304, 22.11.2011, p. 64–88). 51 Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p.22).
Amendment 78 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Member States shall take the necessary measures to achieve a significant50% reduction in the consumption of the single-use plastic products listed in Part A of the Annex on their territory by … [six year2025 and an 80% reduction by 2030. Member States shall establish a baseline by [18 months after the end- date for transposition of this Directive]. Member States shall adopt plans for the achievement of these reductions, including the measures taken.
Amendment 84 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Those measures mayshall include national consumption reduction targets, measures ensuring that reusable alternatives to those products are made available at the point of sale to the final consumer, economic instruments such as ensuring that single- use plastic products are not provided free of charge at the point of sale to the final consumer and may include other measures. Those measures may vary depending on the environmental impact of the products referred to in the first subparagraph.
Amendment 85 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Member States shall also take the necessary measures to achieve a 35% reduction by 2025 and a 60% reduction by 2030 in the consumption of the products listed in Part F of the Annex, with baseline as above.
Amendment 86 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission mayshall adopt an implementing act laying down the methodology for the calculation and verification of the significant reduction targets in the consumption of the single-use plastic products referred to in paragraph 1 by ...[12 months before the end date for transposition of this Directive]. That implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 16(2).
Amendment 89 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Member States shall prohibit the placing on market of the single-use plastic products listed in Part B of the Annex. Given that products other than those covered by this Directive are significant contributors to marine litter, the Member State will be empowered to apply to those products the same measures applicable to the items listed in Part B of the Annex. The Member State shall inform the Commission of the adoption of these measures, including their rationale, scientific evidence in support and details on their practical implementation and enforcement.
Amendment 117 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
(b a) information on the extended producer responsibility schemes established by Member States for the purposes of Article 8, including i) the quantity of the products placed in the market and the waste flows resulting from those;(ii) the financial contribution paid by producers of products per unit sold or per tonne of product placed on the market; (ii) the financial contribution paid by producers of products per unit sold or per tonne of product placed on the market; (iii) and the extent to which the scheme(s) reduce the amount of plastic in residual waste.
Amendment 120 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. That report shall also indicate whether:indicate whether the Annex listing single-use plastic products needs to be reviewed to include other single-use plastic items.
Amendment 121 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point a
Amendment 122 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point b
Amendment 124 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point c
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point c
Amendment 125 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Any review shall not consider criteria or standards for the biodegradability or disintegration in the marine environment of single-use plastic products.
Amendment 129 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – part A – indent 2
Annex I – part A – indent 2
— Cups for beverages and their lids
Amendment 131 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – part B – indent 3
Annex I – part B – indent 3
— Plates, bowls and other similar items with the same function
Amendment 132 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – part B – indent 6 a (new)
Annex I – part B – indent 6 a (new)
- lollipop sticks
Amendment 133 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – part B – indent 6 b (new)
Annex I – part B – indent 6 b (new)
- Polystyrene
Amendment 136 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – part E – indent 8 a (new)
Annex I – part E – indent 8 a (new)
- Disposable nappies
Amendment 137 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – part E – indent 8 b (new)
Annex I – part E – indent 8 b (new)
- Disposable lighters
Amendment 139 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – part G – indent 9 a (new)
Annex I – part G – indent 9 a (new)
- Disposable nappies
Amendment 140 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – part G – indent 9 b (new)
Annex I – part G – indent 9 b (new)
- Disposable lighters