SUMMARY

• Today the targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive entered into force. Members can find the final legal text here.
• Based on the legal text, FESI has prepared a high-level analysis outlining the key aspects on the WFD and an infographic.

MORE DETAILS

The proposal for the revision of the Waste Framework Directive was published by the European Commission in July 2023, since then FESI has actively contributed to the legislative process through the submission of multiple position papers (first position paper and position paper ahead of the kick off of the trilogue negotiations). The negotiations between the co-legislators concluded with the adoption of the text—without amendments—by the European Parliament in September, following the Council’s vote in June this year.

The main points of this targeted revision include:

• Institutionalization of the Responsibility of Producers: Member States shall establish national Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes aimed at ensuring the systematic collection, treatment, and reduction of textile waste. Under these schemes, producers shall be held financially and operationally responsible for the end-of-life management of textiles they place on the market, either by undertaking the required actions by themselves or through the appointment of authorised Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs).

• Creation of national registers for producers: Both, producers and PROs, shall be required to submit the necessary information upon registration in the national registers of each Member State in which they intend to operate, in accordance with harmonised data requirements to be established by the European Commission in Implementing Acts.

• Eco modulation of fees: Member States may apply eco-modulated fee structures within their national EPR schemes, with the objective of discouraging environmentally harmful practices associated with ultra-fast fashion. The modulation of these fees shall take into account criteria such as product durability, expected useful lifespan, and the product’s contribution to circularity, including reuse and recycling potential. The European Commission is expected to adopt implementing acts to establish common criteria and methodologies to guide Member States in the application of eco-modulation mechanisms, but without setting common fees.

• Timelines for secondary legislation that will follow the publication of this Directive:

• By 17 April 2027 The Commission shall adopt implementing acts to establish a harmonized format for producer registration​.

• The Commission shall adopt Implementing Acts laying down the fee modulation criteria, however the timelines were not specified in the legal text. According to the unofficial information from the Commission, this process will not be concluded before the finalisation of the Textile Delegated Act (2027).

NEXT STEPS

Member States are required to bring into force the necessary laws, regulations, and administrative provisions to comply with the Directive​ by  17 June 2027. In the meantime, FESI will remain active in the process of shaping the secondary legislation on the harmonised format for producer registration and for the Eco modulation of fees.