EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 94/62/EC of 20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste

Id-Direttiva tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill 94/62/KE

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

ta’ l-20 ta’ Diċembru 1994

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 100a thereof,

dwar l-imballaġġ u l-iskart mill-imballaġġ

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

IL-PARLAMENT EWROPEW U L-KUNSILL TA’ L-UNJONI EWROPEA,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),

Wara li kkunsidraw it-Trattat li jistabbilixxi l-Komunità Ewropea, u b’mod partikolari l-Artikolu 100a tiegħu,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty (3),

Wara li kkunsidraw il-proposta mill-Kummissjoni [1],

Whereas the differing national measures concerning the management of packaging and packaging waste should be harmonized in order, on the one hand, to prevent any impact thereof on the environment or to reduce such impact, thus providing a high level of environmental protection, and, on the other hand, to ensure the functioning of the internal market and to avoid obstacles to trade and distortion and restriction of competition within the Community;

Wara li kkunsidraw l-opinjoni tal-Kumitat Ekonomiku u Soċjali [2],

Whereas the best means of preventing the creation of packaging waste is to reduce the overall volume of packaging;

Filwaqt li jaġixxu skond il-proċedura stabbilita fl-Artikolu 189b tat-Trattat [3],

Whereas it is important, in relation of the objectives of this Directive, to respect the general principle that measures taken in one Member State to protect the environment should not adversely affect the ability of other Member States to achieve the objectives of the Directive;

Billi l-miżuri nazzjonali differenti li għandhom x’jaqsmu ma’ l-immaniġġjar ta’ l-imballaġġ u l-iskart mill-imballaġġ għandhom jiġu armonizzati sabiex, minn naħa l-waħda, dawn ma jħallu l-ebda impatt fuq l-ambjent jew sabiex jitnaqqas l-impatt, sabiex b’hekk jiġi pprovdut livell għoli ta’ protezzjoni ambjentali, u min-naħa l-oħra, sabiex jiġi żgurat illi s-suq intern jaħdem kif suppost u jiġi evitat tfixkil tal-kummerċ kif ukoll distorsjonijiet u restrizzjonijiet tal-kompetizzjoni fil-Komunità;

Whereas the reduction of waste is essential for the sustainable growth specifically called for by the Treaty on European Union;

Billi l-aħjar mezz ta’ prevenzjoni tal-ħolqien ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ huwa li jitnaqqas il-volum totali ta’ l-imballaġġ;

Whereas this Directive should cover all types of packaging placed on the market and all packaging waste; whereas; therefore, Council Directive 85/339/EEC of 27 June 1985 on containers of liquids for human consumption (4) should be repealed;

Billi huwa importanti, fejn għandhom x’jaqsmu l-għanijiet ta’ din id-Direttiva, illi jiġi rrispettat il-prinċipju ġenerali li miżuri meħuda fi Stat Membru wieħed sabiex jipproteġu l-ambjent m’għandhomx jaffettwaw ħażin il-ħila ta’ Stati Membri oħra illi jiksbu l-għanijiet tad-Direttiva;

Whereas packaging has a vital social and economic function and therefore measures provided for in this Directive should apply without prejudice to other relevant legislative requirements affecting quality and transport of packaging or packaged goods;

Billi t-tnaqqis ta’ l-iskart huwa essenzjali għall-iżvilupp sostenibbli mitlub b’mod specifiku mit-Trattat dwar l-Unjoni Ewropea;

Whereas, in line with the Community strategy for waste management set out in Council resolution of 7 May 1990 on waste policy (5) and Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste (6), the management of packaging and packaging waste should include as a first priority, prevention of packaging waste and, as additional fundamental principles, reuse of packaging, recycling and other forms of recovering packaging waste and, hence, reduction of the final disposal of such waste;

Billi din id-Direttiva għandha tkopri t-tipi kollha ta’ l-imballaġġ mqiegħed fis-suq u l-iskart mill-imballaġġ kollu; billi, għalhekk, id-Direttiva tal-Kunsill 85/339/KEE tas-27 ta’ Ġunju 1985 dwar il-kontenituri tal-likwidi għall-konsum tan-nies [4] għandha tiġi rrevokata;

Whereas, until scientific and technological progress is made with regard to recovery processes, reuse and recycling should be considered preferable in terms of environmental impact; whereas this requires the setting up in the Member States of systems guaranteeing the return of used packaging and/or packaging waste; whereas life-cycle assessments should be completed as soon as possible to justify a clear hierarchy between reusable, recyclable and recoverable packaging;

Billi l-imballaġġ għandu funzjoni soċjali u ekonomika vitali u għalhekk il-miżuri pprovduti f’din id-Direttiva għandhom japplikaw mingħajr preġudizzju għal ħtiġiet leġislattivi relevanti oħra li jaffettwaw il-kwalità u t-trasport ta’ l-imballaġġ jew tal-merkanzija imballata;

Whereas prevention of packaging waste shall be carried out through appropriate measures, including initiatives taken within the Member States in accordance with the objectives of this Directive;

Billi, skond l-istrateġija tal-Komunità għall-immaniġġjar ta’ l-iskart stabbilita bir-riżoluzzjoni tal-Kunsill tas-7 ta’ Mejju 1990 dwar il-politika ta’ l-iskart [5] u bid-Direttiva tal-Kunsill 75/442/KEE tal-15 ta’ Lulju 1975 dwar l-iskart [6], l-immaniġġjar ta’ l-imballaġġ u ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ għandu jinkludi bħala l-ewwel prijorità, il-prevenzjoni ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ u, bħala prinċipji fondamentali addizzjonali, l-użu mill-ġdid ta’ l-imballaġġ, ir-riċiklaġġ u forom oħra ta’ rkupru ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ sabiex b’hekk ikun hemm tnaqqis fir-rimi finali ta’ skart ta’ din ix-xorta;

Whereas Member States may encourage, in accordance with the Treaty, reuse systems of packaging which can be reused in an environmentally sound manner, in order to take advantage of the contribution of such systems to environmental protection;

Billi, sakemm isir progress xjentifiku u teknoloġiku fil-proċessi ta’ l-irkupru, l-użu mill-ġdid u r-riċiklaġġ għandhom jingħataw preferenza f’dak li għandu x’jaqsam ma’ l-impatt ambjentali; billi dan jeħtieġ l-istabbiliment fl-Istati Membri ta’ sistemi li jiggarantixxu r-ritorn ta’ l-imballaġġ użat u/jew l-iskart mill-imballaġġ; billi stimi taċ-ċiklu tal-ħajja ta’ l-imballaġġ għandhom jitlestew kemm jista’ jkun malajr sabiex tiġi gġustifikata ġerarkija ċara bejn l-imballaġġ li jista’ jintuża mill-ġdid, dak li jista’ jiġi rriċiklat u dak li jista’ jiġi rkuprat;

Whereas from an environmental point of view recycling should be regarded as an important part of recovery with a particular view to reducing the consumption of energy and of primary raw materials and the final disposal of waste;

Billi l-prevenzjoni ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ għandha titwettaq permezz ta’ miżuri xierqa, inklużi l-inizjattivi meħuda fl-Istati Membri b’konformità ma’ l-għanijiet ta’ din id-Direttiva;

Whereas energy recovery is one effective means of packaging waste recovery;

Billi l-Istati Membri jistgħu jinkoraġġixxu, b’konformità mat-Trattat, sistemi ta’ l-użu mill-ġdid ta’ l-imballaġġ li jista’ jerga’ jintuża b’mod illi jirrispetta l-ambjent, sabiex jieħdu l-vantaġġ tal-kontribuzzjoni ta’ sistemi bħal dawn lill-protezzjoni ambjentali;

Whereas targets set in Member States for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste should be confined within certain ranges so as to take account of the different situations in Member States and to avoid creating barriers to trade and distortion of competition;

Billi mill-perspettiva ambjentali r-riċiklaġġ għandu jiġi meqjus bħala parti importanti mill-irkupru bil-ħsieb partikolari li jitnaqqas il-konsum ta’ l-enerġija u tal-materja prima u tal-qerda finali ta’ l-iskart;

Whereas, in order to achieve results in the medium term and to give economic operators, consumers and public authorities the necessary perspective for the longer term, a medium-term deadline should be set for attaining the aforementioned targets and a long-term deadline set for targets to be determined at a later stage with a view to substantially increasing those targets;

Billi l-irkupru ta’ l-enerġija huwa mezz wieħed effettiv ta’ l-irkupru ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ;

Whereas the European Parliament and the Council should, on the basis of reports by the Commission, examine the practical experience gained in Member States in working towards the aforementioned targets and the findings of scientific research and evaluation techniques such as eco-balances;

Billi l-miri stabbiliti fl-Istati Membri għall-irkupru u r-riċiklaġġ ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ għandhom ikunu restritti fil-kamp tal-varjazzjoni sabiex jitqiesu s-sitwazzjonijiet differenti fl-Istati Membri u sabiex jiġu evitati xkiel għall-kummerċ u distorsjoni tal-kompetizzjoni;

Whereas Member States which have, or will set, programmes going beyond such target ranges should be permitted to pursue those targets in the interest of a high level of environmental protection on condition shat such measures avoid disturbances on the internal market and do not prevent other Member States from complying with this Directive; whereas the Commission should confirm such measures after appropriate verification;

Billi, sabiex jinkisbu riżultati fuq medda daqsxejn twila ta’ żmien u biex l-operaturi ekonomiċi, il-konsumaturi u l-awtoritajiet pubbliċi jingħataw il-perspettiva meħtieġa għall-futur imbiegħed, temma taż-żmien fuq perijodu medju għandha tigi stabbilita sabiex jintlaħqu l-miri msemmija qabel u temma taż-żmien fuq perijodu fit-tul għandha tigi stabbilita għal miri li għandhom jiġu stabbiliti fi stadju aktar tard bil-ħsieb li dawn il-miri jiżdiedu b’mod sostanzjali;

Whereas, on the other hand, certain Member States may be allowed to adopt lower targets because of the specific circumstances in those Member States, on condition that they achieve a minimum target for recovery within the standard deadline, and the standard targets by a later deadline;

Billi l-Parlament Ewropew u l-Kunsill għandhom, fuq il-bażi ta’ rapporti mill-Kummissjoni, jeżaminaw l-esperjenza prattika miksuba fl-Istati Membri fil-ħidma tagħhom lejn il-miri msemmija qabel u s-sejbiet tat-teknika tar-riċerka u l-evalwazzjoni xjentifika bħal mhuma l-istati tal-bilanc ekologiku;

Whereas the management of packaging and packaging waste requires the Member States to set up return, collection and recovery systems; whereas such systems should be open to the participation of all interested parties and be designed to avoid discrimination against imported products and barriers to trade or distortions of competition and to guarantee the maximum possible return of packaging and packaging waste, in accordance with the Treaty;

Billi l-Istati Membri li għandhom, jew se jagħmlu, programmi li jmorru lil hinn minn skali ta’ miri bħal dawn għandhom jiġu mħollija jsegwu dawk il-miri fl-interess ta’ livell għoli ta’ protezzjoni ambjentali bil-kondizzjoni li miżuri ta’ din ix-xorta jevitaw disturbi fis-suq intern u ma jżommux lill-Istati Membri l-oħra milli jikkonformaw ma’ din id-Direttiva; billi l-Kummissjoni għandha tikkonferma miżuri bħal dawn wara verifikazzjoni xierqa;

Whereas the issue of Community marking of packaging requires further study, but should be decided by the Community in the near future;

Billi, mill-banda l-oħra, ċerti Stati Membri jistgħu jitħallew jadottaw miri aktar baxxi minħabba fiċ-ċirkostanzi speċifiċi f’dawk l-Istati Membri, bil-kondizzjoni li huma jiksbu l-mira minima għall-irkupru fit-temma taż-żmien stabbilita għall-Istati Membri kollha, u f’temma taż-żmien aktar tard il-miri stabbiliti għall-Istati Membri kollha;

Whereas, in order to minimize the impact of packaging and packaging waste on the environment and to avoid barriers to trade and distortion of competition, it is also necessary to define the essential requirements governing the composition and the reusable and recoverable (including recyclable) nature of packaging;

Billi l-immaniġġjar ta’ l-imballaġġ u ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ jeħtieġ illi l-Istati Membri jistabbilixxu sistemi ta’ ritorn, ġbir u rkupru; billi sistemi bħal dawn għandhom jinfetħu għall-parteċipazzjoni tal-partijiet interessati kollha u għandhom jiġu ddisinjati b’mod illi jevitaw id-diskriminazzjoni kontra l-prodotti importati u l-ostakoli għall-kummerċ jew id-distorsjoni tal-kompetizzjoni u li jiggarantixxu l-akbar ritorn possibbli ta’ l-imballaġġ u ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ, skond it-Trattat;

Whereas the presence of noxious metals and other substances in packaging should be limited in view of their environmental impact (in particular in the light of their likely presence in emissions or ash when packaging is incinerated, or in leachate when packaging is landfilled); whereas it is essential, as a first step towards reducing the toxicity of packaging waste, to prevent the addition of noxious heavy metals to packaging and ensure that such substances are not released into the environment, with appropriate exemptions which should be determined by the Commission in specific cases under a Committee procedure;

Billi l-kwistjoni ta’ l-immarkar Komunitarju ta’ l-imballaġġ teħtieġ aktar studju, imma għandha tiġi deċiża mill-Komunità fil-futur qarib;

Whereas, if a high level of recycling is to be attained and health and safety problems are to be avoided by those employed to collect and process packaging waste, it is essential for such waste to be sorted at source;

Billi, sabiex jitnaqqas l-impatt fuq l-ambjent ta’ l-imballaġġ u l-iskart mill-imballaġġ u galbiex jiġu evitati ostakoli għall-kummerċ u distorsjoni tal-kompetizzjoni, huwa meħtieġ ukoll li jiġu ddefiniti l-ħtiġiet essenzjali li jirregolaw il-kompożizzjoni u n-natura ta’ l-imballaġġ li jista’ jintuża mill-ġdid u li jista’ jiġi rkuprat (inkluż irriċiklat);

Whereas the requirements for the manufacturing of packaging should not apply to packaging used for a given product before the date of entry into force of this Directive; whereas a transition period for the marketing of packaging is also required;

Billi l-preżenza fl-imballaġġ ta’ metalli u sustanzi oħra li jagħmlu l-ħsara għandha tiġi llimitata minħabba l-impatt tagħhom fuq l-ambjent (b’mod partikolari fid-dawl tal-preżenza mistennija tagħhom fl-emissjonijiet jew fl-irmied meta l-imballaġġ jiġi maħruq, jew fil-lissija meta l-imballaġġ jigi mirdum); billi huwa essenzjali, bħala l-ewwel pass lejn it-tnaqqis tat-tossiċità ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ, illi titwaqqaf iż-żieda fl-imballaġġ ta’ metalli tqal li jagħmlu l-ħsara u li jiġi żgurat li sustanzi bħal dawn ma joħorgux fl-ambjent, b’eżenzjonijiet xierqa li għandhom jiġu stabbiliti mill-Kummissjoni f’każijiet speċifiċi taħt proċedura tal-Kumitat;

Whereas the timing of the provision on the placing on the market of packaging which meets all essential requirements should take account of the fact that European standards are being prepared by the competent standardization body; whereas, however, the provisions on means of proof of conformity of national standards should apply without delay;

Billi, jekk għandu jintlaħaq livell għoli ta’ riċiklaġġ u jiġu evitati problemi ta’ saħħa u ta’ sigurtà minn dawk impjegati biex jiġbru u jipproċessaw l-iskart mill-imballaġġ, huwa essenzjali li skart ta’ din ix-xorta jiġi magħżul fis-sorsi;

Whereas the preparation of European standards for essential requirements and other related issues should be promoted;

Billi l-ħtiġiet għall-fabbrikar ta’ l-imballaġġ m’għandhomx jgħoddu għall-imballaġġ użat għal prodotti specifikati qabel id-data tad-dħul fis-seħħ ta’ din id-Direttiva; billi perijodu ta’ transizzjoni għat-tqegħid fis-suq ta’ l-imballaġġ huwa meħtieġ ukoll;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Directive imply the development of recovery and recycling capacities and market outlets for recycled packaging materials;

Billi l-għażla ta’ l-aħjar mument għad-dispożizzjoni dwar it-tqegħid fis-suq ta’ l-imballaġġ li jilħaq il-ħtiġiet essenzjali kollha għandha tqis il-fatt li standards Ewropej qed jiġu ppreparati mill-korp kompetenti ta’ l-istandardizzazzjoni; billi, madanakollu, id-dispożizzjonijiet dwar il-mezzi tal-prova tal-konformità ta’ l-istandards nazzjonali għandhom japplikaw bla dewmien;

Whereas the inclusion of recycled material in packaging should not contradict relevant provisions on hygiene, health and consumer safety;

Billi l-preparazzjoni ta’ l-istandards Ewropej għall-ħtiġiet essenzjali u għal punti oħra li għandhom x’jaqsmu magħhom għandha tiġi inkoraggita;

Whereas Community-wide data on packaging and packaging waste are needed in order to monitor the implementation of the objectives of this Directive;

Billi l-miżuri pprovduti f’din id-Direttiva jimplikaw l-iżvilupp ta’ kapaċitajiet ta’ l-irkupru u r-riċiklaġġ u ta’ swieq għall-materjali ta’ l-imballaġġ riċiklati;

Whereas it is essential that all those involved in the production, use, import and distribution of packaging and packaged products become more aware of the extent to which packaging becomes waste, and that in accordance with the polluter-pays principle they accept responsibility for such waste; whereas the development and implementation of the measures provided for in this Directive should involve and require the close cooperation of all the partners, where appropriate, within a spirit of shared responsibility;

Billi l-inklużjoni ta’ materjal riċiklat fl-imballaġġ m’għandux imur kontra d-dispożizzjonijiet relevanti dwar l-iġjene, is-saħħa, u s-sigurtà tal-konsumatur;

Whereas consumers play a key role in the management of packaging and packaging waste and thus have to be adequately informed in order to adapt their behaviour and attitudes;

Billi informazzjoni dwar l-imballaġġ u l-iskart mill-imballaġġ mill-Komunità kollha hija meħtieġa sabiex tigi mmonitorjata l-implimentazzjoni ta’ l-għanijiet ta’ din id-Direttiva;

Whereas the inclusion of a specific chapter on the management of packaging and packaging waste in the waste management plans required pursuant to Directive 75/442/EEC will contribute to the effective implementation of this Directive;

Billi huwa essenzjali li dawk kollha involuti fil-produzzjoni, l-użu, l-importazzjoni u d-distribuzzjoni tal-prodotti ta’ l-imballaġġ u l-prodotti imballati jsiru aktar konxji ta’ l-ammont ta’ imballaġġ illi jsir skart, u li skond il-prinċipju li min iniġġeż iħallas jaċċettaw ir-responsabbiltà għal dan l-iskart; billi l-iżvilupp u l-implimentazzjoni tal-miżuri pprovduti f’din id-Direttiva għandhom jinvolvu u jeħtieġu l-koperazzjoni mill-qrib tal-imsieħba kollha, fejn xieraq, fl-ispirtu ta’ responsabbiltà komuni;

Whereas, in order to facilitate the achievement of the objectives of this Directive, it may be appropriate for the Community and the Member States to use economic instruments in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty, so as to avoid new forms of protectionism;

Billi l-konsumaturi għandhom funzjoni essenzjali fl-immaniġġjar ta’ l-imballaġġ u ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ u għalhekk għandhom jingħataw biżżejjed tagħrif sabiex jaddattaw l-imġieba u l-attitudnijiet tagħhom;

Whereas Member States should, without prejudice to Council Directive 83/189/EEC of 28 March 1983 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations (1), notify the Commission of drafts of any measures they intend to adopt before adopting them, so that it can be established whether or not they comply with the Directive;

Billi l-inklużjoni ta’ kapitolu speċifiku dwar l-immaniġġjar ta’ l-imballaġġ u ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ fil-pjanijiet ta’ l-immaniġġjar ta’ l-iskart meħtieġa mid-Direttiva 75/442/KEE tikkontribbwixxi għall-implimentazzjoni effettiva ta’ din id-Direttiva;

Whereas the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the packaging identification system and the formats relating to a database system should be ensured by the Commission under a committee procedure;

Billi, sabiex tiġi mħaffa l-kisba ta’ l-għanijiet ta’ din id-Direttiva, jista’ jkun xieraq li l-Komunità u l-Istati Membri jużaw strumenti ekonomiċi skond id-dispożizzjonijiet tat-Trattat, sabiex jiġu evitati forom ġodda ta’ protezzjoniżmu;

Whereas it is necessary to provide for specific measures to be taken to deal with any difficulties encountered in the implementation of this Directive in accordance, where appropriate, with the same committee procedure,

Billi l-Istati Membri għandhom, mingħajr preġudizzju għad-Direttiva tal-Kunsill 83/189/KEE tat-28 ta’ Marzu 1983 li tistabbilixxi l-proċedura għall-provvediment tat-tagħrif fil-qasam ta’ l-istandards u tar-regolamenti tekniċi [7], jgħarrfu lill-Kummissjoni bl-abbozz ta’ kull miżura li għandhom il-ħsieb li jadottaw qabel ma jadottawha, sabiex ikun jista’ jiġi stabbilit jekk tikkonformax mad-Direttiva jew le;

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Billi l-addattament għall-progress xjentifiku u teknoloġiku tas-sistema ta’ l-identifikazzjoni ta’ l-imballaġġ u l-formati li għandhom x’jaqsmu mas-sistema tad-database għandhom jiġu żgurati mill-Kummissjoni bi proċedura ta’ kumitat;

Billi jeħtieġ li jiġu pprovduti miżuri speċifiċi li għandhom jittieħdu sabiex tingħeleb kull diffikultà li tinqala’ fl-implimentazzjoni ta’ din id-Direttiva bi qbil ma’, fejn xieraq, l-istess proċedura tal-kumitat,

ADOTTAW DIN ID-DIRETTIVA:

Article 1

L-Artikolu 1

Objectives 1. This Directive aims to harmonize national measures concerning the management of packaging and packaging waste in order, on the one hand, to prevent any impact thereof on the environment of all Member States as well as of third countries or to reduce such impact, thus providing a high level of environmental protection, and, on the other hand, to ensure the functioning of the internal market and to avoid obstacles to trade and distortion and restriction of competition within the Community.

Għanijiet

2. To this end this Directive lays down measures aimed, as a first priority, at preventing the production of packaging waste and, as additional fundamental principles, at reusing packaging, at recycling and other forms of recovering packaging waste and, hence, at reducing the final disposal of such waste.

1. Din id-Direttiva għandha bħala għan l-armonizzazzjoni tal-miżuri nazzjonali li għandhom x’jaqsmu ma’ l-immaniġġjar ta’ l-imballaġġ u ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ sabiex, min-naħa l-waħda, ma jkun hemm l-ebda impatt minn dawn fuq l-ambjent ta’ l-ebda Stat Membru jew ta’ terzi pajjiżi jew sabiex jitnaqqas l-impatt, biex b’hekk jiġi pprovdut livell għoli ta’ protezzjoni ambjentali, u sabiex, min-naħa l-oħra, tiġi żgurata l-funzjoni tas-suq intern u jiġu evitati t-tfixkil tal-kummerċ u distorsjonijiet u restrizzjonijiet tal-kompetizzjoni fil-Komunità.

2. Għal dan il-għan din id-Direttiva tistabbilixxi miżuri mmirati, bħala l-ewwel prijorità, lejn it-twaqqif tal-produzzjoni ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ u, bħala prinċipji fundamentali addizzjonali, lejn l-użu mill-ġdid ta’ l-imballaġġ, lejn ir-riċiklaġġ u lejn forom oħra ta’ l-irkupru ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ u, b’hekk lejn it-tnaqqis tal-qerda finali ta’ dan l-iskart.

Article 2

L-Artikolu 2

Scope 1. This Directive covers all packaging placed on the market in the Community and all packaging waste, whether it is used or released at industrial, commercial, office, shop, service, household or any other level, regardless of the material used.

Il-kamp ta’ l-applikazzjoni

2. This Directive shall apply without prejudice to existing quality requirements for packaging such as those regarding safety, the protection of health and the hygiene of the packed products or to existing transport requirements or to the provisions of Council Directive 91/689/EEC of 12 December 1991 on hazardous waste (2).

1. Din id-Direttiva tkopri l-imballaġġ kollu mqiegħed fis-suq tal-Komunità u l-iskart mill-imballaġġ kollu, kemm jekk jigi użat kemm jekk jinħareg fil-livell ta’ l-industrija, tal-kummerċ, ta’ l-uffiċini, tal-ħwienet, ta’ xi servizzi, domestiku jew ta’ xi livell ieħor, ikun xi jkun il-materjal użat.

2. Din id-Direttiva għandha tgħodd mingħajr preġudizzju għal ħtiġiet eżistenti tal-kwalità għall-imballaġġ bħalma huma dawk li għandhom x’jaqsmu mas-sigurtà, mal-protezzjoni tas-saħħa u ma’ l-iġjene tal-prodotti imballati jew għal ħtiġiet eżistenti tat-trasport jew għad-dispożizzjonijiet tad-Direttiva tal-Kunsill 91/689/KEE tat-12 ta’ Diċembru 1991 dwar l-iskart perikoluż [8].

Article 3

L-Artikolu 3

Definitions For the purposes of this Directive:

Definizzjonijiet

1. 'packaging` shall mean all products made of any materials of any nature to be used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery and presentation of goods, from raw materials to processed goods, from the producer to the user or the consumer. 'Non-returnable` items used for the same purposes shall also be considered to constitute packaging.

Għall-iskopijiet ta’ din id-Direttiva

'Packaging` consists only of:

1. "l-imballaġġ" għandu jfisser il-prodotti kollha magħmula minn kull materjal tkun xi tkun in-natura tiegħu sabiex jintużaw għaż-żamma, il-protezzjoni, l-immaniġġjar, it-twassil u l-preżentazzjoni tal-merkanzija, minn materja prima sa prodotti pproċessati, mill-produttur sa l-utent jew il-konsumatur. Il-prodotti li mhumiex maħsubin sabiex jerġgħu jinġabru li jiġu wżati għall-istess skopijiet għandhom jitqiesu bħala imballaġġ ukoll.

(a) sales packaging or primary packaging, i. e. packaging conceived so as to constitute a sales unit to the final user or consumer at the point of purchase;

"L-imballaġġ" jikkonsisti biss fi-:

(b) grouped packaging or secondary packaging, i. e. packaging conceived so as to constitute at the point of purchase a grouping of a certain number of sales units whether the latter is sold as such to the final user or consumer or whether it serves only as a means to replenish the shelves at the point of sale; it can be removed from the product without affecting its characteristics;

(a) imballaġġ għall-bejgħ jew imballaġġ primarju, jiġifieri l-imballaġġ maħsub sabiex jikkostitwixxi unità ta’ bejgħ lill-utent jew lill-konsumatur finali fil-post fejn jinxtara;

(c) transport packaging or tertiary packaging, i. e. packaging conceived so as to facilitate handling and transport of a number of sales units or grouped packagings in order to prevent physical handling and transport damage. Transport packaging does not include road, rail, ship and air containers;

(b) imballaġġ ta’ prodotti fi gruppi jew imballaġġ sekondarju, jiġifieri l-imballaġġ maħsub sabiex jikkostitwixxi fil-post fejn jinxtara gruppi ta’ ċertu numru ta’ unitajiet tal-bejgħ kemm jekk dawn ta’ l-aħħar jiġu mibjugħa b’dan il-mod lill-utent jew lill-konsumatur finali kemm jekk iservu biss bħala mezz biex jimtlew l-ixkafef fil-post tal-bejgħ; jista’ jitneħħa mill-prodott mingħajr ma jaffettwa l-karatteristiċi tiegħu;

2. 'packaging waste` shall mean any packaging or packaging material covered by the definition of waste in Directive 75/442/EEC, excluding production residues;

(ċ) imballaġġ għat-trasport jew imballaġġ terzjarju, jiġifieri l-imballaġġ maħsub sabiex jiġu mħeffa l-immaniġġjar u t-trasport ta’ numru ta’ unitajiet tal-bejgħ jew imballaġġ ta’ prodotti fi gruppi sabiex ma ssirx ħsara mill-immaniġġjar fiżiku u waqt it-trasport. L-imballaġġ tat-trasport ma jinkludix il-kontejners li jinġarru fuq il-vetturi ta’ l-art, fuq il-ferrovija, fuq il-bastimenti jew fuq l-ajruplani;

3. 'packaging waste management` shall mean the management of waste as defined in Directive 75/442/EEC;

2. "l-iskart mill-imballaġġ" għandu jfisser kull imballaġġ jew materjal ta’ l-imballaġġ li jaqa’ taħt id-definizzjoni ta’ l-iskart fid-Direttiva 75/442/KEE, minbarra l-fdalijiet tal-produzzjoni;

4. 'prevention` shall mean the reduction of the quantity and of the harmfulness for the environment of:

3. "l-immaniġġjar ta’ l-iskart ta’ l-imballaġġ" għandu jfisser l-immaniġġjar ta’ l-iskart kif definit fid-Direttiva 75/442/KEE;

- materials and substances contained in packaging and packaging waste,

4. "il-prevenzjoni" għandha tfisser it-tnaqqis fil-kwantità u fil-ħsara għall-ambjent:

- packaging and packaging waste at production process level and at the marketing, distribution, utilization and elimination stages,

- tal-materjali u s-sustanzi li jinsabu fl-imballaġġ u fl-iskart mill-imballaġġ,

in particular by developing 'clean` products and technology;

- ta’ l-imballaġġ u l-iskart mill-imballaġġ fil-livell tal-proċess tal-produzzjoni u fl-istadji tat-tħejjija għas-suq, tat-tqassim, ta’ l-utilizzazzjoni u ta’ l-eliminazzjoni,

5. 'reuse` shall mean any operation by which packaging, which has been conceived and designed to accomplish within its life cycle a minimum number of trips or rotations, is refilled or used for the same purpose for which it was conceived, with or without the support of auxiliary products present on the market enabling the packaging to be refilled; such reused packaging will become packaging waste when no longer subject to reuse;

b’mod partikolari permezz ta’ l-iżvilupp ta’ prodotti u teknoloġija "nodfa";

6. 'recovery` shall mean any of the applicable operations provided for in Annex II.B to Directive 75/442/EEC;

5. "l-użu mill-ġdid" għandu jfisser kull operazzjoni li permezz tagħha l-imballaġġ, li jkun ġie maħsub u ddisinjat sabiex iwettaq fiċ-ċiklu tal-ħajja tiegħu numru minimu ta’ vjaġġi jew rotazzjonijiet, jiġi mimli mill-ġdid jew użat għall-istess skop li għalih kien ġie maħsub, bl-appoġġ jew mingħajru ta’ prodotti awżiljari preżenti fis-suq li jgħinu sabiex il-prodott jerġa’ jimtela; imballaġġ użat mill-ġdid bħal dan isir skart ta’ l-imballaġġ meta ma jistax jerġa’ jintuża;

7. 'recycling` shall mean the reprocessing in a production process of the waste materials for the original purpose or for other purposes including organic recycling but excluding energy recovery;

6. "l-irkupru" għandu jfisser kull operazzjoni applikabbli pprovduta fl-Anness II.B tad-Direttiva 75/442/KEE;

8. 'energy recovery` shall mean the use of combustible packaging waste as a means to generate energy through direct incineration with or without other waste but with recovery of the heat;

7. "ir-riċiklaġġ" għandu jfisser il-proċessar mill-ġdid fi proċess tal-produzzjoni tal-materjali ta’ l-iskart għall-iskopijiet oriġinali jew għal skopijiet oħra inkluż ir-riċiklaġġ organiku imma minbarra l-irkupru ta’ l-enerġija;

9. 'organic recycling` shall mean the aerobic (composting) or anaerobic (biomethanization) treatment, under controlled conditions and using micro-organisms, of the biodegradable parts of packaging waste, which produces stabilized organic residues or methane. Landfill shall not be considered a form of organic recycling;

8. "l-irkupru ta’ l-enerġija" għandu jfisser l-użu ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ li jieħu n-nar bħala mezz sabiex tiġi ġġenerata l-enerġija permezz ta’ ħruq dirett flimkien ma’, jew mingħajr, skart ieħor imma bl-irkupru tas-sħana;

10. 'disposal` shall mean any of the applicable operations provided for in Annex II.A to Directive 75/442/EEC;

9. "ir-riċiklaġġ organiku" għandu jfisser it-trattament erobiku (kompostjar) jew anerobiku (bijometanizzar), taħt kondizzjonijiet kontrollati u bl-użu ta’ mikro-organiżmi, tal-partijiet bijodegradabbli ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ, li jipproduċu residwi organiċi stabblizzati jew metanu. L-irdim m’għandux jitqies bħala forma ta’ riċiklaġġ organiku;

11. 'economic operators` in relation to packaging shall mean suppliers of packaging materials, packaging producers and converters, fillers and users, importers, traders and distributors, authorities and statutory organizations;

10. "qerda" għandha tfisser kull operazzjoni applikabbli pprovduta fl-Anness II.A tad-Direttiva 75/442/KEE;

12. 'voluntary agreement` shall mean the formal agreement concluded between the competent public authorities of the Member State and the economic sectors concerned, which has to be open to all partners who wish to meet the conditions of the agreement with a view to working towards the objectives of this Directive.

11. "l-operaturi ekonomiċi" fir-rigward ta’ l-imballaġġ għandhom ifissru l-fornituri tal-materjali ta’ l-imballaġġ, il-produtturi ta’ l-imballaġġ u dawk li jimlew l-imballaġġ u l-utenti, l-importaturi, in-negozjanti u d-distributuri, l-awtoritajiet u l-organizzazzjonijiet statutorji;

12. "ftehim volontarju" għandu jfisser il-ftehim formali milħuq bejn l-awtoritajiet kompetenti pubbliċi ta’ l-Istati Membri u s-setturi ekonomiċi interessati, li jrid ikun miftuħ għall-imsieħba kollha li jixtiequ jilħqu l-kondizzjonijiet tal-ftehim fil-ħsieb li jaħdmu ghall-għanijiet ta’ din id-Direttiva.

Article 4

L-Artikolu 4

Prevention 1. Member States shall ensure that, in addition to the measures to prevent the formation of packaging waste taken in accordance with Article 9, other preventive measures are implemented. Such other measures may consist of national programmes or similar actions adopted, if appropriate in consultation with economic operators, and designed to collect and take advantage of the many initiatives taken within Member States as regards prevention. They shall comply with the objectives of this Directive as defined in Article 1 (1).

Prevenzjoni

2. The Commission shall help to promote prevention by encouraging the development of suitable European standards, in accordance with Article 10.

1. L-Istati Membri għandhom jiżguraw illi, barra mill-miżuri għall-prevenzjoni tal-formazzjoni ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ meħuda skond l-Artikolu 9, miżuri oħra preventivi għandhom jiġu implimentati. Dawn il-miżuri jistgħu jikkonsistu fi programmi nazzjonali jew azzjonijiet simili adottati, jekk xieraq f’konsultazzjoni ma’ l-operaturi ekonomiċi, u ddisinjati sabiex jiġbru u jieħdu vantaġġ mill-ħafna inizjattivi meħuda fl-Istati Membri f’dik li hija prevenzjoni. Għandhom jikkonformaw ma’ l-għanijiet ta’ din id-Direttiva definiti fl-Artikolu 1(1).

2. Il-Kummissjoni għandha tgħin sabiex tmexxi ’l quddiem il-prevenzjoni billi tinkoraġġixxi l-iżvilupp ta’ standards Ewropej addattati, skond l-Artikolu 10.

Article 5

L-Artikolu 5

Member States may encourage reuse systems of packaging, which can be reused in an environmentally sound manner, in conformity with the Treaty.

L-Istati Membri jistgħu jinkoraġġixxu sistemi ta’ użu mill-ġdid ta’ l-imballaġġ, li jista’ jintuża mill-ġdid b’mod li jħares l-ambjent, f’konformità mat-Trattat.

L-Artikolu 6

Article 6

L-irkupru u r-riċiklaġġ

Recovery and recycling 1. In order to comply with the objectives of this Directive, Member States shall take the necessary measures to attain the following targets covering the whole of their territory;

1. Sabiex jikkonformaw ma’ l-għanijiet ta’ din id-Direttiva, l-Istati Membri għandhom jieħdu l-passi meħtieġa sabiex jiksbu l-miri li ġejjin li jkopru t-territorju kollu tagħhom;

(a) no later than five years from the date by which this Directive must be implemented in national law, between 50 % as a minimum and 65 % as a maximum by weight of the packaging waste will be recovered;

(a) mhux aktar minn ħames snin mid-data li fiha din id-Direttiva għandha tiġi implimentata fil-liġi nazzjonali, bejn 50 % bħala minimu u 65 % bħala massimu tal-piż ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ għandu jiġi rkuprat;

(b) within this general target, and with the same time limit, between 25 % as a minimum and 45 % as a maximum by weight of the totality of packaging materials contained in packaging waste will be recycled with a minimum of 15 % by weight for each packaging material;

(b) bħala parti minn din il-mira ġenerali, u fl-istess limitu taż-żmien, bejn 25 % bħala minimu u 45 % bħala massimu tal-piż tat-totalità tal-materjali ta’ l-imballaġġ li jinsabu fl-iskart mill-imballaġġ għandhom jiġu rriċiklati b’minimu ta’ 15 % tal-piż għal kull materjal ta’ l-imballaġġ.

(c) no later than 10 years from the date by which this Directive must be implemented in national law, a percentage of packaging waste will be recovered and recycled, which will have to be determined by the Council in accordance with paragraph 3 (b) with a view to substantially increasing the targets mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b).

(ċ) mhux aktar tard minn 10 snin mid-data li fiha din id-Direttiva għandha tiġi implimentata fil-liġi nazzjonali, percentwal ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ li jrid jiġi kkalkolat mill-Kunsill skond il-paragrafu 3(b) bil-ħsieb li jiżdiedu sostanzjalment il-miri msemmija fil-paragrafi (a) u (b), għandu jiġi rkuprat u rriċiklat.

2. Member States shall, where appropriate, encourage the use of materials obtained from recycled packaging waste for the manufacturing of packaging and other products.

2. L-Istati Membri għandhom, fejn applikabbli, jinkoraġġixxu l-użu tal-materjali miksuba mill-iskart mill-imballaġġ riċiklat għall-fabbrikazzjoni ta’ l-imballaġġ u prodotti oħra.

3. (a) The European Parliament and the Council shall, on the basis of an interim report by the Commission, and four years from the date referred to in paragraph 1 (a) on the basis of a final report, examine the practical experience gained in the Member States in the pursuance of the targets and objective laid down in paragraphs 1 (a) and (b) and 2 and the findings of scientific research and evaluation techniques such as eco-balances.

3. (a) Il-Parlament Ewropew u l-Kunsill għandhom, fuq il-bażi ta’ rapport provvisorju mill-Kummissjoni, u erba’ snin mid-data riferita fil-paragrafu 1(a) fuq il-bażi ta’ rapport finali, jeżaminaw l-esperjenza prattika miksuba mill-Istati Membri fl-isforzi tagħhom sabiex jilħqu l-miri u l-għanijiet stabbiliti fil-paragrafi 1(a) u (b) u 2 u s-sejbiet tar-riċerka xjentifika u tat-teknika ta’ l-evalwazzjoni bħalma huma l-istati tal-bilanc ekologiku.

(b) No later than six months before the end of the first five-year phase referred to in paragraph 1 (a) the Council shall, acting by qualified majority and on a proposal from the Commission, fix targets for the second five-year phase referred to in paragraph 1 (c). This process shall be repeated every five years thereafter.

(b) Mhux aktar tard minn sitt xhur qabel l-aħħar ta’ l-ewwel fażi ta’ ħames snin riferita fil-paragrafu 1(a) il-Kunsill għandu, waqt li jaġixxi permezz ta’ maġġoranza kwalifikata u fuq proposta mill-Kummissjoni, jiffissa l-miri għat-tieni fażi ta’ ħames snin riferita fil-paragrafu 1(ċ). Dan il-proċess għandu jiġi rrepetut kull ħames snin.

4. The measures and targets referred to in paragraph 1 (a) and (b) shall be published by the Member States and shall be the subject of an information campaign for the general public and economic operators.

4. Il-miżuri u l-miri riferiti fil-paragrafu 1(a) u (b) għandhom jiġu ppubblikati mill-Istati Membri u għandhom ikunu s-suġġett ta’ kampanja ta’ tagħrif għall-pubbliku ġenerali u għall-operaturi ekonomiċi.

5. Greece, Ireland and Portugal may, because of their specific situation, i. e. respectively the large number of small islands, the presence of rural and mountain areas and the current low level of packaging consumption, decide to:

5. Il-Greċja, l-Irlanda u l-Portugall jistgħu, minħabba fis-sitwazzjoni speċifika tagħhom, jiġifieri n-numru kbir ta’ gżejjer żgħar, il-preżenza ta’ żoni rurali u muntanjużi u l-livell baxx korrenti tal-konsum ta’ l-imballaġġ rispettivament, jiddeċiedu li:

(a) attain, no later than five years from the date of implementation of this Directive, lower targets than those fixed in paragraph 1 (a) and (b), but shall at least attain 25 % for recovery;

(a) jilħqu, mhux aktar tard minn ħames snin mid-data ta’ l-implimentazzjoni ta’ din id-Direttiva, miri aktar baxxi minn dawk stabbiliti fil-paragrafu 1(a) u (b), imma għandhom għall-inqas jilħqu l-25 % għall-irkupru;

(b) postpone at the same time the attainment of the targets in paragraph 1 (a) and (b) to a later deadline which, however, shall not exceed 31 December 2005.

(b) jippostponu fl-istess ħin il-kisba tal-miri fil-paragrafu 1(a) u (b) sa temma taż-żmien aktar tard li, madankollu, m’għandhiex taqbeż il-31 ta’ Diċembru 2005.

6. Member States which have, or will, set programmes going beyond the targets of paragraph 1 (a) and (b) and which provide to this effect appropriate capacities for recycling and recovery, are permitted to pursue those targets in the interest of a high level of environmental protection, on condition that these measures avoid distortions of the internal market and do not hinder compliance by other Member States with the Directive. Member States shall inform the Commission thereof. The Commission shall confirm these measures, after having verified, in cooperation with the Member States, that they are consistent with the considerations above and do not constitute an arbitrary means of discrimination or a disguised restriction on trade between Member States.

6. L-Istati Membri li għandhom, jew se jagħmlu programmi li jmorru lil hinn mill-miri tal-paragrafu 1(a) u (b) u li jipprovdu għal dan il-għan kapaċitajiet addattati għar-riċiklaġġ u l-irkupru, huma permessi li jsegwu dawn il-miri fl-interess ta’ livell għoli ta’ protezzjoni ambjentali, bil-kondizzjoni li dawn il-miżuri jevitaw id-distorsjoni tas-suq intern u ma jfixklux il-konformità ta’ l-Istati Membri l-oħra ma’ din id-Direttiva. L-Istati Membri għandhom jgħarrfu lill-Kummissjoni b’dan. Il-Kummissjoni għandha tikkonferma dawn il-miżuri, wara li tkun ivverifikat, f’koperazzjoni ma’ l-Istati Membri, li huma konsistenti mal-konsiderazzjonijiet msemmija fuq u li ma jikkostitwixxux mezz arbitrarju ta’ diskriminazzjoni jew restrizzjoni moħbija fuq il-kummerċ bejn l-Istati Membri.

L-Artikolu 7

Article 7

Is-sistemi tar-ritorn, tal-ġbir u ta’ l-irkupru

Return, collection and recovery systems 1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that systems are set up to provide for:

1. L-Istati Membri għandhom jieħdu l-miżuri meħtieġa sabiex jiżguraw li jiġu stabbiliti sistemi biex jipprovdu:

(a) the return and/or collection of used packaging and/or packaging waste from the consumer, other final user, or from the waste stream in order to channel it to the most appropriate waste management alternatives;

(a) għar-ritorn u/jew għall-ġbir ta’ l-imballaġġ użat u/jew l-iskart mill-imballaġġ mingħand il-konsumatur, utent finali ieħor, jew mill-gabra finali ta’ l-iskart sabiex jiġi mgħoddi lis-sistemi alternattivi ta’ l-immaniġġjar ta’ l-iskart l-aktar addattati;

(b) the reuse or recovery including recycling of the packaging and/or packaging waste collected,

(b) għall-użu mill-ġdid jew għall-irkupru inkluż ir-riċiklaġġ ta’ l-imballaġġ u/jew l-iskart mill-imballaġġ miġbur,

in order to meet the objectives laid down in this Directive.

sabiex jintlaħqu l-għanijiet stabbiliti b’din id-Direttiva.

These systems shall be open to the participation of the economic operators of the sectors concerned and to the participation of the competent public authorities. They shall also apply to imported products under non-discriminatory conditions, including the detailed arrangements and any tariffs imposed for access to the systems, and shall be designed so as to avoid barriers to trade or distortions of competition in conformity with the Treaty.

Dawn is-sistemi għandhom ikunu miftuħa għall-parteċipazzjoni ta’ l-operaturi ekonomiċ tas-setturi interessati u għall-parteċipazzjoni ta’ l-awtoritajiet pubbliċi kompetenti. Għandhom jgħoddu wkoll għall-prodotti importati, taħt kondizzjonijiet mhux diskriminatorji, inklużi l-arranġamenti dettaljati u kull tariffa imposta għall-aċċess għas-sistemi, u għandhom jiġu ddisinjati sabiex jevitaw xkiel għall-kummerċ jew distorsjoni tal-kompetizzjoni f’konformità mat-Trattat.

2. The measures referred to in paragraph 1 shall form part of a policy covering all packaging and packaging waste and shall take into account, in particular, requirements regarding the protection of environmental and consumer health, safety and hygiene; the protection of the quality,the authenticity and the technical characteristics of the packed goods and materials used; and the protection of industrial and commercial property rights.

2. Il-miżuri riferiti fil-paragrafu 1 għandhom jiffurmaw parti mill-politika li tkopri l-imballaġġ u l-iskart mill-imballaġġ kollu u għandhom iqisu, b’mod partikolari, il-ħtiġiet tal-protezzjoni tas-saħħa ambjentali u tal-konsumatur, tas-sigurtà u ta’ l-iġjene; il-protezzjoni tal-kwalità, ta’ l-awtentiċità u l-karatteristiċi tekniċi tal-merkanzija imballata u tal-materjali użati; u l-protezzjoni tad-drittijiet tal-proprjetà industrijali u kummerċjali.

L-Artikolu 8

Article 8

Is-sistema ta’ l-immarkar u ta’ l-identifikazzjoni

Marking and identification system 1. The Council shall, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the Treaty, decide no later than two years after the entry into force of this Directive on the marking of packaging.

1. Il-Kunsill għandu, skond il-kondizzjonijiet stabbiliti bit-Trattat, jiddeċiedi fuq l-immarkar ta’ l-imballaġġ mhux aktar tard minn sentejn wara d-dħul fis-seħħ ta’ din id-Direttiva.

2. To facilitate collection, reuse and recovery including recycling, packaging shall indicate for purposes of its identification and classification by the industry concerned the nature of the packaging material(s) used.

2. Sabiex jiġi mħaffef il-ġbir, l-użu mill-ġdid u l-irkupru inkluż ir-riċiklaġġ, l-imballaġġ għandu jindika għall-iskopijiet ta’ l-identifikazzjoni u l-klassifikazzjoni tiegħu mill-industrija interessata n-natura tal-materjal/i ta’ l-imballaġġ użat/i.

To that end, the Commission shall, not later than 12 months after the entry into force of this Directive determine, on the basis of Annex I and in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21, the numbering and abbreviations on which the identification system is based and shall specify which materials shall be subject to the identification system in accordance with the same procedure.

Għal dan il-għan, il-Kummissjoni għandha, mhux aktar tard minn 12-il xahar wara d-dħul fis-seħħ ta’ din id-Direttiva tistabbilixxi, fuq il-bażi ta’ l-Anness I u skond il-proċedura stabbilita fl-Artikolu 21, in-numerika u l-abbrevjazzjonijiet li fuqhom is-sistema ta’ l-identifikazzjoni hija msejsa u għandha tispeċifika liema materjali għandhom ikunu soġġetti għas-sistema ta’ l-identifikazzjoni skond l-istess proċedura.

3. Packaging shall bear the appropriate marking either on the packaging itself or on the label. It shall be clearly visible and easily legible. The marking shall be appropriately durable and lasting, including when the packaging is opened.

3. L-imballaġġ għandu jġorr l-immarkar addattat fuq l-imballaġġ innifsu jew fuq it-tikketta. Għandu jkun jidher ċar u jinqara bil-ħeffa. L-immarkar għandu jkun jiflaħ għall-istrapazz u jservi kif suppost, inkluż meta jinfetaħ l-imballaġġ.

L-Artikolu 9

Article 9

Il-ħtiġiet essenzjali

Essential requirements 1. Member States shall ensure that three years from the date of the entry into force of this Directive, packaging may be placed on the market only if it complies with all essential requirements defined by this Directive including Annex II.

1. L-Istati Membri għandhom jiżguraw li tliet snin mid-data tad-dħul fis-seħħ ta’ din id-Direttiva, l-imballaġġ ikun jista’ jitqiegħed fis-suq biss jekk jikkonforma mal-ħtiġiet essenzjali kollha definiti f’din id-Direttiva inkluż l-Anness II.

2. Member States shall, from the date set out in Article 22 (1), presume compliance with all essential requirements set out in this Directive including Annex II in the case of packaging which complies:

2. L-Istati Membri għandhom, mid-data stabbilita fl-Artikolu 22(1), jippreżumu l-konformità mal-ħtiġiet essenzjali kollha stabbiliti f’din id-Direttiva inkluż fl-Anness II fil-każ ta’ l-imballaġġ li jikkonforma:

(a) with the relevant harmonized standards, the reference numbers of which have been published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Member States shall publish the reference numbers of national standards transposing these harmonized standards;

(a) ma’ l-istandards armonizzati relevanti, li n-numri tar-referenza tagħhom ġew ippubblikati fil-Ġurnal Uffiċjali tal-Komunitajiet Ewropej. L-Istati Membri għandhom jippubblikaw in-numri tar-referenza ta’ l-istandards nazzjonali li jittrasponu dawn l-istandards armonizzati;

(b) with the relevant national standards referred to in paragraph 3 in so far as, in the areas covered by such standards, no harmonized standards exist.

(b) ma’ l-istandards nazzjonali relevanti riferiti fil-paragrafu 3 sakemm, fl-oqsma koperti b’dawn l-istandards, l-ebda standards armonizzati ma jeżistu.

3. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of their national standards, as referred to in paragraph 2 (b), which they deem to comply with the requirements referred to in this Article. The Commission shall forward such texts forthwith to the other Member States.

3. L-Istati Membri għandhom jikkomunikaw lill-Kummissjoni t-test ta’ l-istandards nazzjonali tagħhom, riferiti fil-paragrafu 2(b), li jidhrilhom illi jikkonformaw mal-ħtiġiet riferiti f’dan l-Artikolu. Il-Kummissjoni għandha tgħaddi dawn it-testijiet mill-aktar fis lill-Istati Membri l-oħra.

Member States shall publish the references of these standards. The Commission shall ensure that they are published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

L-Istati Membri għandhom jippubblikaw ir-referenzi ta’ dawn l-istandards. Il-Kummissjoni għandha tiżgura li jiġu ppubblikati fil-Ġurnal Uffiċjali tal-Komunitajiet Ewropej.

4. Where a Member State or the Commission considers that the standards referred to in paragraph 2 do not entirely meet the essential requirements referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission or the Member State concerned shall bring the matter before the Committee set up by Directive 83/189/EEC giving the reasons therefor. This Committee shall deliver an opinion without delay.

4. Fejn Stat Membru jew il-Kummissjoni jikkonsidraw li l-istandards riferiti fil-paragrafu 2 ma jilħqux għal kollox il-ħtiġiet essenzjali riferiti fil-paragrafu 1, il-Kummissjoni jew l-Istat Membru interessat għandu jressaq il-kwistjoni quddiem il-Kumitat stabbilit bid-Direttiva 83/189/KEE u jagħti r-raġunijiet għaliha. Dan il-Kumitat għandu jaghti opinjoni mingħajr dewmien.

In the light of the Committee's opinion, the Commission shall inform Member States whether or not it is necessary to withdraw those standards from the publications referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3.

Fid-dawl ta’ l-opinjoni tal-Kumitat, il-Kummissjoni għandha tinforma lill-Istati Membri jekk ikunx meħtieġ illi jiġu rtirati dawk l-istandards mill-pubblikazzjonijiet riferiti fil-paragrafi 2 u 3.

L-Artikolu 10

Article 10

L-istandardizzazzjoni

Standardization The Commission shall promote, as appropriate, the preparation of European standards relating to the essential requirements referred to in Annex II.

Il-Kummissjoni għandha tmexxi ’l quddiem, kif xieraq, il-preparazzjoni ta’ standards Ewropej li għandhom x’jaqsmu mal-ħtiġiet essenzjali riferiti fl-Anness II.

The Commission shall promote, in particular, the preparation of European standards relating to:

Il-Kummissjoni għandha tmexxi ’l quddiem, b’mod partikolari, il-preparazzjoni ta’ standards Ewropej li għandhom x’jaqsmu ma’:

- criteria and methodologies for life-cycle analysis of packaging,

- il-kriterji u l-metodoloġiji għall-analiżi taċ-ċiklu tal-ħajja ta’ l-imballaġġ,

- the methods for measuring and verifying the presence of heavy metals and other dangerous substances in the packaging and their release into the environment from packaging and packaging waste,

- il-metodi biex tiġi mkejla u vverifikata l-preżenza ta’ metalli tqal u sustanzi oħra ta’ periklu fl-imballaġġ u l-ħruġ tagħhom mill-imballaġġ u l-iskart mill-imballaġġ għal ġo l-ambjent,

- criteria for a minimum content of recycled material in packaging for appropriate types of packaging,

- il-kriterji għall-kontenut minimu ta’ materjal riċiklat fl-imballaġġ għat-tipi addattati ta’ l-imballaġġ,

- criteria for recycling methods,

- il-kriterji għall-metodi tar-riċiklaġġ,

- criteria for composting methods and produced compost,

- il-kriterji għall-metodi tal-kompostjar u l-kompost prodott,

- criteria for the marking of packaging.

- il-kriterji għall-immarkar ta’ l-imballaġġ.

L-Artikolu 11

Article 11

Il-livelli tal-konċentrazzjoni tal-metalli tqal preżenti fl-imballaġġ

Concentration levels of heavy metals present in packaging 1. Member States shall ensure that the sum of concentration levels of lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium present in packaging or packaging components shall not exceed the following:

1. L-Istati Membri għandhom jiżguraw illi s-somma tal-livelli tal-konċentrazzjoni tac-ċomb, tal-kadmju, tal-merkurju, u tal-kromju eksavalenti preżenti fl-imballaġġ jew fil-komponenti ta’ l-imballaġġ m’għandhomx jaqbżu dak li ġej:

- 600 ppm by weight two years after the date referred to in Article 22 (i);

- 600 ppm skond il-piż sentejn wara d-data riferita fl-Artikolu 22(i);

- 250 ppm by weight three years after the date referred to in Article 22 (i);

- 250 ppm skond il-piż tliet snin wara d-data riferita fl-Artikolu 22(i);

- 100 ppm by weight five years after the date referred to in Article 22 (i).

- 100 ppm skond il-piż ħames snin wara d-data riferita fl-Artikolu 22(i).

2. The concentration levels referred to in paragraph 1 shall not apply to packaging entirely made of lead crystal glass as defined in Directive 69/493/EEC (1).

2. Il-livelli tal-konċentrazzjoni riferiti fil-paragrafu 1 m’għandhomx jgħoddu għall-imballaġġ magħmul kollu kemm hu mill-ħġieġ tal-kristall biċ-ċomb definit fid-Direttiva 69/493/KEE [9].

3. The Commission shall, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21, determine:

3. Il-Kummissjoni għandha, skond il-proċedura stabbilita fl-Artikolu 21, tiddeciedi:

- the conditions under which the above concentration levels will not apply to recycled materials and to product loops which are in a closed and controlled chain,

- il-kondizzjonijiet illi taħthom il-livelli tal-konċentrazzjoni msemmija fuq ma jgħoddux għall-materjali riċiklati u għaċ-ċirkwiti tal-prodotti li jkunu f’katina magħluqa u kkontrollata,

- the types of packaging which are exempted from the requirement referred to in paragraph 1, third indent.

- ix-xorta ta’ imballaġġ li huwa eżenti mill-ħtieġa riferita fil-paragrafu 1, it-tielet inciż.

L-Artikolu 12

Article 12

Is-sistemi ta’ l-informazzjoni

Information systems 1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that databases on packaging and packaging waste are established, where not already in place, on a harmonized basis in order to contribute to enabling Member States and the Commission to monitor the implementation of the objectives set out in this Directive.

1. L-Istati Membri għandhom jieħdu l-miżuri meħtieġa sabiex jiżguraw illi d-databases fuq l-imballaġġ u l-iskart mill-imballaġġ jiġu mibnija, fejn mhux diġà jeżistu, fuq bażi armonizzata sabiex jgħinu lill-Istati Membri u lill-Kummissjoni fil-monitorjar ta’ l-implimentazzjoni ta’ l-għanijiet stabbiliti b’din id-Direttiva.

2. To this effect, the databases shall provide in particular information on the magnitude, characteristics and evolution of the packaging and packaging waste flows (including information on the toxicity or danger of packaging materials and components used for their manufacture) at the level of individual Member States.

2. Għal dan il-għan, id-databases għandhom jipprovdu informazzjoni dwar il-kobor, il-karatteristiċi u l-evoluzzjoni taċ-ċirkolazzjoni ta’ l-imballaġġ u ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ (inkluża l-informazzjoni dwar it-tossiċità jew il-periklu tal-materjali ta’ l-imballaġġ u l-komponenti użati għall-fabbrikazzjoni tagħhom) fil-livell ta’ l-Istati Membri individwali.

3. In order to harmonize the characteristics and presentation of the data produced and to make the data of the Member States compatible, Member States shall provide the Commission with their available data by means of formats which shall be adopted by the Commission one year from the date of entry into force of this Directive on the basis of Annex III, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21.

3. Sabiex jiġu armonizzati l-karatteristiċi u l-preżentazzjoni ta’ l-informazzjoni prodotta u sabiex l-informazzjoni ta’ l-Istati Membri differenti tkun taqbel, l-Istati Membri għandhom jipprovdu lill-Kummissjoni bl-informazzjoni disponibbli permezz ta’ formati li għandhom jiġu adottati mill-Kummissjoni sena qabel id-dħul fis-seħħ ta’ din id-Direttiva fuq il-bażi tal-Anness III, skond il-proċedura stabbilita fl-Artikolu 21.

4. Member States shall take into account the particular problems of small and medium-sized enterprises in providing detailed data.

4. Meta jipprovdu informazzjoni ddettaljata l-Istati Membri għandhom iqisu l-problemi partikolari ta’ l-intrapriżi ta’ daqs żgħir u medju.

5. The data obtained shall be made available with the national reports referred to in Article 17 and shall be updated in subsequent reports.

5. L-informazzjoni miksuba għandha tingħata mar-rapporti nazzjonali riferiti fl-Artikolu 17 u għandha tiġi aġġornata fir-rapporti sossegwenti.

6. Member States shall require all economic operators involved to provide competent authorities with reliable data on their sector as required in this Article.

6. L-Istati Membri għandhom jitolbu lill-operaturi kollha involuti jipprovdu lill-awtoritajiet kompetenti informazzjoni ta’ min joqgħod fuqha dwar is-settur tagħhom kif meħtieġ f’dan l-Artikolu.

L-Artikolu 13

Article 13

Tagħrif għall-utenti ta’ l-imballaġġ

Information for users of packaging Member States shall take measures, within two years of the date referred to in Article 22 (1), to ensure that users of packaging, including in particular consumers, obtain the necessary information about:

L-Istati Membri għandhom jieħdu miżuri, fi żmien sentejn mid-data riferita fl-Artikolu 22(1), biex jiżguraw illi l-utenti ta’ l-imballaġġ, inklużi b’mod partikolari l-konsumaturi, jiksbu t-tagħrif meħtieġ dwar:

- the return, collection and recovery systems available to them,

- is-sistemi tar-ritorn, tal-ġbir u ta’ l-irkupru disponibbli għalihom,

- their role in contributing to reuse, recovery and recycling of packaging and packaging waste,

- ir-rwol tagħhom fil-kontribuzzjoni lejn l-użu mill-ġdid, l-irkupru u r-riċiklaġġ ta’ l-imballaġġ u l-iskart mill-imballaġġ,

- the meaning of markings on packaging existing on the market,

- it-tifsira ta’ l-immarkar fuq l-imballaġġ li jkun fis-suq,

- the appropriate elements of the management plans for packaging and packaging waste as referred to in Article 14.

- l-elementi li jgħoddu tal-pjanijiet ta’ l-immaniġġjar ta’ l-imballaġġ u l-iskart mill-imballaġġ riferiti fl-Artikolu 14.

L-Artikolu 14

Article 14

Il-pjanijiet għall-immaniġġjar

Management Plans In pursuance of the objectives and measures referred to in this Directive, Member States shall include in the waste management plans required pursuant to Article 17 of Directive 75/442/EEC, a specific chapter on the management of packaging and packaging waste, including measures taken pursuant to Articles 4 and 5.

Filwaqt li jsegwu l-għanijiet u l-miżuri riferiti f’din id-Direttiva, l-Istati Membri għandhom jinkludu fil-pjanijiet ta’ l-immaniġġjar ta’ l-iskart meħtieġa skond l-Artikolu 17 tad-Direttiva 75/442/KEE, kapitolu speċifiku dwar l-immaniġġjar ta’ l-imballaġġ u ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ, inklużi l-miżuri meħuda skond l-Artikoli 4 u 5.

L-Artikolu 15

Article 15

L-istrumenti ekonomiċi

Economic instruments Acting on the basis of the relevant provisions of the Treaty, the Council adopts economic instruments to promote the implementation of the objectives set by this Directive. In the absence of such measures, the Member States may, in accordance with the principles governing Community environmental policy, inter alia, the polluter-pays principle, and the obligations arising out of the Treaty, adopt measures to implement those objectives.

Waqt li jaġixxi fuq il-bażi tad-dispożizzjonijiet relevanti tat-Trattat, il-Kunsill jadotta strumenti ekonomiċi biex imexxi ’l quddiem l-implimentazzjoni ta’ l-għanijiet stabbiliti b’din id-Direttiva. Fin-nuqqas ta’ miżuri bħal dawn, l-Istati Membri jistgħu jadottaw miżuri biex jimplimentaw dawn l-għanijiet, skond il-prinċipji li jirregolaw il-politika ambjentali tal-Komunità, fost ħwejjeġ oħra, il-prinċipju li min iniġġeż iħallas, u l-obbligazzjonijiet taħt it-Trattat.

L-Artikolu 16

Article 16

In-notifikazzjoni

Notification 1. Without prejudice to Directive 83/189/EEC, before adopting such measures, Member States shall notify the drafts of measures which they intend to adopt within the framework of this Directive to the Commission, excluding measures of a fiscal nature, but including technical specifications linked to fiscal measures which encourage compliance with such technical specifications, in order to permit the latter to examine them in the light of existing provisions following in each case the procedure under the above Directive.

1. Mingħajr preġudizzju għad-Direttiva 83/189/KEE, qabel ma jadottaw miżuri bħal dawn, l-Istati Membri għandhom jgħarrfu lill-Kummissjoni bl-abbozzi tal-miżuri li jkunu bi ħsiebhom jadottaw fil-qafas ta’ din id-Direttiva, minbarra l-miżuri ta’ natura fiskali, iżda inklużi l-ispeċifikazzjonijiet tekniċi magħquda ma’ miżuri fiskali li jinkoraġġixxu l-konformità ma’ speċifikazzjonijiet tekniċi bħal dawn, sabiex jippermettu lil din ta’ l-aħħar illi teżaminahom fid-dawl tad-dispożizzjonijiet eżistenti filwaqt li ssegwi f’kull każ il-proċedura taħt id-Direttiva msemmija fuq.

2. If the proposed measure is also a technical matter within the meaning of Directive 83/189/EEC, the Member State concerned may indicate, when following the notification procedures referred to in this Directive, that the notification is equally valid for Directive 83/189/EEC.

2. Jekk il-miżura proposta hija wkoll kwistjoni teknika fit-tifsira tad-Direttiva 83/189/KEE, l-Istat Membru interessat jista’ jindika, waqt li jsegwi l-proċeduri tan-notifika riferiti f’din id-Direttiva, li n-notifikazzjoni hija valida wkoll għad-Direttiva 83/189/KEE.

L-Artikolu 17

Article 17

L-obbligu li jsir rapport

Obligation to report Member States shall report to the Commission on the application of this Directive in accordance with Article 5 of Council Directive 91/692/EEC of 23 December 1991 standardizing and rationalizing reports on the implementation of certain Directives relating to the environment (1). The first report shall cover the period 1995 to 1997.

L-Istati Membri għandhom jirrapportaw lill-Kummissjoni dwar l-applikazzjoni ta’ din id-Direttiva skond l-Artikolu 5 tad-Direttiva tal-Kunsill 91/692/KEE tat-23 ta’ Diċembru 1991 li tistandardizza u tirrazzjonalizza r-rapporti dwar l-implimentazzjoni ta’ ċerti Direttivi li għandhom x’jaqsmu ma’ l-ambjent [10]. L-ewwel rapport għandu jkopri l-perjodu 1995 sa 1997.

L-Artikolu 18

Article 18

Il-libertà tat-tqegħid fis-suq

Freedom to place on the market Member States shall not impede the placing on the market of their territory of packaging which satisfies the provisions of this Directive.

L-Istati Membri m’għandhomx ifixklu t-tqegħid fis-suq tat-territorju tagħhom ta’ l-imballaġġ li jissodisfa d-dispożizzjonijiet ta’ din id-Direttiva.

L-Artikolu 19

Article 19

L-addattament għall-progress xjentifiku u tekniku

Adaptation to scientific and technical progress The amendments necessary for adapting to scientific and technical progress the identification system - as referred to in Article 8 (2), Annex I and Article 10, last indent - and the formats relating to the database system - as referred to in Article 12 (3) and Annex III - shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21.

L-emendi meħtieġa għall-addattament tas-sistema ta’ l-identifikazzjoni għall-progress xjentifiku u tekniku – riferiti fl-Artikolu 8(2), l-Anness I u l-Artikolu 10, l-aħħar inciż – u l-formati li għandhom x’jaqsmu mas-sistema tad-database – riferiti fl-Artikolu 12(3) u l-Anness III – għandhom jiġu adottati skond il-proċedura stabbilita bl-Artikolu 21.

L-Artikolu 20

Article 20

Miżuri speċifiċi

Specific measures 1. The Commission, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21, shall determine the technical measures necessary to deal with any difficulties encountered in applying the provisions of this Directive in particular to primary packaging for medical devices and pharmaceutical products, small packaging and luxury packaging.

1. Il-Kummissjoni, b’konformità mal-proċedura stabbilita fl-Artikolu 21, għandha tistabbilixxi l-miżuri tekniċi meħtieġa sabiex tkun tista’ tegħleb kull diffikultà li tista’ tiltaqa’ magħha fl-applikazzjoni tad-dispożizzjonijiet ta’ din id-Direttiva b’mod partikolari għall-imballaġġ primarju għall-apparat mediku u l-prodotti farmaċewtiċi, għall-imballaġġ żgħir u għall-imballaġġ ta’ lussu.

2. The Commission shall also present a report to the European Parliament and the Council on any other measure to be taken, if appropriate accompanied by a proposal.

2. Il-Kummissjoni għandha wkoll tippreżenta rapport lill-Parlament Ewropew u lill-Kunsill dwar kull miżura oħra li tkun ser tittieħed, akkumpanjat minn proposta jekk applikabbli.

L-Artikolu 21

Article 21

Il-proċedura tal-Kumitat

Committee procedure 1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee composed of the representatives of the Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission.

1. Il-Kummissjoni għandha tiġi megħjuna minn kumitat magħmul mir-rappreżentanti ta’ l-Istati Membri u ppreseduta mir-rappreżentant tal-Kummissjoni.

2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid down in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission. The votes of the representatives of the Member States within the committee shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The chairman shall not vote.

2. Ir-rappreżentant tal-Kummissjoni għandu jissottometti lill-kumitat abbozz tal-miżuri li għandhom jittieħdu. Il-kumitat għandu jagħti l-opinjoni tiegħu dwar l-abbozz f’limitu taż-żmien li l-president jista’ jippreskrivi skond l-urġenza tal-kwistjoni. L-opinjoni għandha tingħata bil-maġġoranza stabbilita bl-Artikolu 148(2) tat-Trattat fil-każ tad-deċiżjonijiet li l-Kunsill ikun meħtieġ jadotta fuq proposta mill-Kummissjoni. Il-voti tar-rappreżentanti ta’ l-Istati Membri fuq il-kumitat għandhom jigu ppeżati bil-mod stabbilit f’dan l-Artikolu. Il-President m’għandux jivvota.

3. (a) The Commission shall adopt the measures envisaged if they are in accordance with the opinion of the committee.

3. (a) Il-Kummissjoni għandha tadotta l-miżuri maħsuba jekk ikunu bi qbil ma’ l-opinjoni tal-kumitat.

(b) >If the measures envisaged are not in accordance with the opinion of the committee, or if no opinion is delivered, the Commission shall, without delay, submit to the Council a proposal relating to the measures to be taken. The Council shall act by a qualified majority.

(b) Jekk il-miżuri maħsuba ma jkunux jaqblu ma’ l-opinjoni tal-kumitat, jew jekk ma tingħata l-ebda opinjoni, il-Kummissjoni għandha tissottometti lill Kunsill mingħajr dewmien proposta dwar il-miżuri li jkunu ser jittieħdu. Il-Kunsill għandu jaġixxi bil-maġġoranza kwalifikata.

If, on the expiry of a period which may in no case exceed three months from the date of referral to the Council, the Council has not acted, the proposed measures shall be adopted by the Commission.

Jekk il-Kunsill ikun għadu ma aġixxiex fit-temma taż-żmien ta’ perjodu li fl-ebda każ ma jista’ jaqbeż it-tliet xhur mid-data tar-referenza lill-Kunsill, il-miżuri proposti għandhom jiġu adottati mill-Kummissjoni.

L-Artikolu 22

Article 22

L-implimentazzjoni fil-liġi nazzjonali

Implementation in national law 1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive before 30 June 1996. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.

1. L-Istati Membri għandhom idaħħlu fis-seħħ il-liġijiet, ir-regolamenti u d-dispożizzjonijiet amministrattivi meħtieġa sabiex jikkonformaw ma’ din id-Direttiva qabel it-30 ta’ Ġunju 1996. Għandhom minnufih jgħarrfu lill-Kummissjoni b’dan.

2. When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. the methods for making such reference shall be laid down by the Member States.

2. Meta l-Istati Membri jadottaw dawn il-miżuri, dawn għandhom jagħmlu referenza għal din id-Direttiva jew għandhom ikunu akkumpanjati b’din ir-referenza fl-okkażjoni tal-pubblikazzjoni uffiċjali tagħhom. Il-metodi sabiex issir referenza bħal din għandhom jiġu stabbiliti mill-Istati Membri.

3. In addition, Member States shall communicate to the Commission all existing laws, regulations and administrative provisions adopted within the scope of this Directive.

3. Barra minn hekk, l-Istati Membri għandhom jikkomunikaw lill-Kummissjoni l-liġijiet, ir-regolamenti u d-dispożizzjonijiet amministrattivi kollha adottati fil-kamp ta’ l-applikazzjoni ta’ din id-Direttiva.

4. The requirements for the manufacturing of packaging shall in no case apply to packaging used for a given product before the date of entry into force of this Directive.

4. Il-ħtiġiet għall-fabbrikazzjoni ta’ l-imballaġġ m’għandhom fl-ebda każ jgħoddu għall-imballaġġ użat għal prodotti specifikati qabel id-data tad-dħul fis-seħħ ta’ din id-Direttiva.

5. Member States shall, for a period not exceeding five years from the date of the entry into force of the present Directive, allow the placing on the market of packaging manufactured before this date and which is in conformity with their existing national law.

5. L-Istati Membri għandhom, għal perjodu li ma jaqbiżx il-ħames snin mid-data tad-dħul fis-seħħ ta’ din id-Direttiva, jippermettu t-tqegħid fis-suq ta’ l-imballaġġ iffabbrikat qabel din id-data u li huwa f’konformità mal-liġi nazzjonali eżistenti.

L-Artikolu 23

Article 23

Id-Direttiva 85/339/KEE hija b’dan irrevokata b’effett mid-data riferita fl-Artikolu 22(1).

Directive 85/339/EEC is hereby repealed with effect from the date referred to in Article 22 (1).

L-Artikolu 24

Din id-Direttiva għandha tidħol fis-seħħ fil-ġurnata tal-pubblikazzjoni tagħha fil-Ġurnal Uffiċjali tal-Komunitajiet Ewropej.

Article 24

L-Artikolu 25

This Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Din id-Direttiva hija indirizzata lill-Istati Membri.

Article 25

Magħmula fi Brussel, fl-20 ta’ Diċembru 1994.

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Għall-Parlament Ewropew

Il-President

Done at Brussels, 20 December 1994.

K. Hänsch

For the European Parliament The President K. HAENSCH For the Council The President K. KINKEL

Għall-Kunsill

(1) OJ No C 263, 12. 10. 1992, p. 1 and OJ No C 285, 21. 10. 1993, p. 1.

Il-President

(2) OJ No C 129, 10. 5. 1993, p. 18.

K. Kinkel

(3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 23 June 1993 (OJ No C 194, 19. 7. 1993, p. 177), common position of the Council of 4 March 1994 (OJ No C 137, 19. 5. 1994, p. 65) and Decision of the European Parliament of 4 May 1994 (OJ No C 205, 25. 7. 1994, p. 163). Confirmed on 2 December 1993 (OJ No C 342, 20. 12. 1993, p. 15). Joint text of the Conciliation Committee of 8 November 1994.

[1] ĠU C 263, tat-12.10.1992, p. 1 u ĠU C 285, tal-21.10.1993, p. 1.

(4) OJ No L 176, 6. 7. 1985, p. 18. Directive as amended by Directive 91/629/EEC (OJ No L 377, 31. 12. 1991, p. 48).

[2] ĠU C 129, ta’ l-10.5.1993, p. 18.

(5) OJ No C 122, 18. 5. 1990, p. 2.

[3] L-opinjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew tat-23 ta’ Ġunju 1993 (ĠU C 194, tad-19.7.1993, p. 177), il-pożizzjoni komuni tal-Kunsill ta’ l-4 ta’ Marzu 1994 (ĠU C 137, tad-19.5.1994, p. 65) u d-Deċiżjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew ta’ l-4 ta’ Mejju 1994 (ĠU C 205, tal-25.7.1994, p. 163). Ikkonfermati fit-2 ta’ Diċembru 1993 (ĠU C 342, ta’ l-20.12.1993, p. 15). It-test komuni tal-Kumitat tal-Konċiljazzjoni tat-8 ta’ Novembru 1994.

(6) OJ No L 194, 25. 7. 1975, p. 39. Directive as last amended by Directive 91/156/EEC (OJ No L 78, 26. 3. 1991, p. 32).

[4] ĠU L 176, tas-6.7.1985, p. 18. Id-Direttiva l-aħħar emendata bid-Direttiva 91/629/KEE (ĠU L 377, tal-31.12.1991, p. 48).

(1) OJ No L 109, 26. 4. 1983, p. 8. Directive as last amended by Directive 92/400/EEC (OJ No L 221, 6. 8. 1992, p. 55).

[5] ĠU C 122, tat-18.5.1990, p. 2.

(2) OJ No L 377, 31. 12. 1991, p. 20.

[6] ĠU L 194, tal-25.7.1975, p. 39. Id-Direttiva l-aħħar emendata bid-Direttiva 91/156/KEE (ĠU L 78, tas-26.3.1991, p. 32).

(1) OJ No L 326, 29. 12. 1969, p. 36.

[7] ĠU L 109, tas-26.4.1983, p. 8. Id-Direttiva l-aħħar emendata bid-Direttiva 92/400/KEE (ĠU L 221, tas-6.8.1992, p. 55).

(1) OJ No L 377, 31. 12. 1991, p. 48.

[8] ĠU L 377, tal-31.12.1991, p. 20.

[9] ĠU L 326, tad-29.12.1969, p. 36.

[10] ĠU L 377, tal-31.12.1991, p. 48.

ANNEX I

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L-ANNESS I

IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

IS-SISTEMA TA’ L-IDENTIFIKAZZJONI

The numbering used shall be from 1 to 19 for plastic, from 20 to 39 for paper and cardboard, from 40 to 49 for metal, from 50 to 59 for wood, from 60 to 69 for textiles and from 70 to 79 for glass.

In-numerika użata għandha tkun minn 1 sa 19 għall-plastik, minn 20 sa 39 għall-karta u l-kartun, minn 40 sa 49 għall-metall, minn 50 sa 59 għall-injam, minn 60 sa 69 għat-tessuti u minn 70 sa 79 għall-ħġieġ.

The identification system may also use the abbreviation for the relevant material(s) (e. g. HDPE: high density polyethylene). Materials may be identified by a numbering system and/or abbreviation. The identification marks shall appear in the centre of or below the graphical marking indicating the reusable or recoverable nature of the packaging.

Is-sistema ta’ l-identifikazzjoni tista’ tuża wkoll l-abbrevjazzjoni għall-materjal(i) rilevanti (eż. HDPE: polietilene ta’ densità għolja). Il-materjali jistgħu jiġu identifikati permezz ta’ sistema numerika u/jew abbrevjazzjoni. Il-marki ta’ l-identifikazzjoni għandhom jidhru fiċ-ċentru ta’, jew taħt, l-immarkar grafiku li jindika jekk l-imballaġġ ikunx jista’ jintuża mill-ġdid jew jiġi rkuprat.

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L-ANNESS II

ANNEX II

IL-ĦTIĠIET ESSENZJALI DWAR IL-KOMPOŻIZZJONI U N-NATURA TA’ L-IMBALLAĠĠ ILLI JISTA’ JERGA’ JINTUŻA’ MILL-ĠDID JEW JIĠI RKUPRAT, INKLUŻ IRRIĊIKLAT

1. Il-ħtiġiet speċifiċi għall-fabbrikazzjoni u l-komposizzjoni ta’ l-imballaġġ

ESSENTAIL REQUIREMENTS ON THE COMPOSITION AND THE REUSABLE AND RECOVERABLE, INCLUDING RECYCLABLE, NATURE OF PACKAGING

- L-imballaġġ għandu jiġi ffabbrikat hekk illi l-volum u l-piż ta’ l-imballaġġ jigu llimitati għall-ammont minimu adegwat sabiex jinżamm il-livell meħtieġ tas-sigurtà, ta’ l-iġjene u ta’ l-aċċettazzjoni tal-prodott imballat u għall-konsumatur.

1. Requirements specific to the manufacturing and composition of packaging - Packaging shall be so manufactured that the packaging volume and weight be limited to the minimum adequate amount to maintain the necessary level of safety, hygiene and acceptance for the packed product and for the consumer.

- L-imballaġġ għandu jiġi ddisinjat, prodott u kummerċjalizzat hekk illi jippermetti l-użu mill-ġdid jew l-irkupru, inkluż ir-riċiklaġġ, u li jitnaqqas l-impatt tiegħu fuq l-ambjent meta jinqerdu l-iskart mill-imballaġġ jew ir-residwi minn operazzjonijiet ta’ l-immaniġġjar ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ.

- Packaging shall be designed, produced and commercialized in such a way as to permit its reuse or recovery, including recycling, and to minimize its impact on the environment when packaging waste or residues from packaging waste management operations are disposed of.

- L-imballaġġ għandu jiġi ffabbrikat hekk illi l-preżenza bħala kostitwenti tal-materjal ta’ l-imballaġġ jew ta’ xi komponenti ta’ l-imballaġġ ta’ sustanzi li jagħmlu l-ħsara u ta’ materjali oħra perikolużi tiġi mminimizzata fl-emissjonijiet, fl-irmied jew fil-lissija meta l-imballaġġ jew ir-residwi minn operazzjonijiet ta’ l-immaniġġjar jew ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ jinħarqu jew jiġu mirduma.

- Packaging shall be so manufactured that the presence of noxious and other hazardous substances and materials as constituents of the packaging material or of any of the packaging components is minimized with regard to their presence in emissions, ash or leachate when packaging or residues from management operations or packaging waste are incinerated or landfilled.

2. Il-ħtiġiet speċifiċi għan-natura ta’ l-imballaġġ li tippermetti l-użu mill-ġdid

2. Requirements specific to the reusable nature of packaging The following requirements must be simultaneously satisfied:

Il-ħtiġiet li ġejjin għandhom jiġu sodisfatti fl-istess ħin:

- the physical properties and characteristics of the packaging shall enable a number of trips or rotations in normally predictable conditions of use,

- il-kwalitajiet u l-karatteristiċi fiżiċi ta’ l-imballaġġ għandhom jippermettu numru ta’ vjaġġi jew rotazzjonijiet f’kondizzjonijiet ta’ l-użu li normalment jistgħu jitbassru,

- possiblity of processing the used packaging in order to meet health and safety requirements for the workforce,

- il-possibbiltà ta’ l-ipproċessar ta’ l-imballaġġ użat sabiex jintlaħqu l-ħtiġiet tas-saħħa u tas-sigurtà tal-ħaddiema,

- fulfil the requirements specific to recoverable packaging when the packaging is no longer reused and thus becomes waste.

- jigu osservati l-ħtiġiet speċifiċi għall-imballaġġ li jista’ jigi rkuprat meta l-imballaġġ ma jibqax jerga’ jintuża u għalhekk isir skart.

3. Requirements specific to the recoverable nature of packaging (a) Packaging recoverable in the form of material recycling Packaging must be manufactured in such a way as to enable the recycling of a certain percentage by weight of the materials used into the manufacture of marketable products, in compliance with current standards in the Community. The establishment of this percentage may vary, depending on the type of material of which the packaging is composed.

3. Il-ħtiġiet speċifiċi għall-imballaġġ illi jista’ jigi rkuprat

(b) Packaging recoverable in the form of energy recovery Packaging waste processed for the purpose of energy recovery shall have a minimum inferior calorific value to allow optimization of energy recovery.

(a) L-imballaġġ li jista’ jigi rkuprat fil-forma ta’ materjal riċiklat

(c) Packaging recoverable in the form of composting Packaging waste processed for the purpose of composting shall be of such a biodegradable nature that it should not hinder the separate collection and the composting process or activity into which it is introduced.

L-imballaġġ għandu jiġi ffabbrikat hekk illi jippermetti r-riċiklaġġ ta’ ċertu percentwal skond il-piż tal-materjali użati fil-fabbrikazzjoni tal-prodotti li jistghu jitqieghdu fis-suq, f’konformità ma’ l-istandards korrenti fil-Komunità. L-ghażla ta’ dan il-percentwal tista’ tvarja, skond ix-xorta ta’ materjal li minnu l-imballaġġ ikun maghmul.

(d) Biodegradable packaging Biodegradable packaging waste shall be of such a nature that it is capable of undergoing physical, chemical, thermal or biological decomposition such that most of the finished compost ultimately decomposes into carbon dioxide, biomass and water.

(b) L-imballaġġ li jista’ jigi rkuprat fil-forma ta’ irkupru ta’ l-enerġija

L-iskart mill-imballaġġ proċessat għall-iskop ta’ l-irkupru ta’ l-enerġija għandu jkollu valur minimu kalorifiku inferjuri sabiex jippermetti l-aħjar irkupru ta’ l-enerġija.

(ċ) L-imballaġġ illi jista’ jigi rkuprat fil-forma ta’ kompostjar

ANNEX III

L-iskart mill-imballaġġ proċessat għall-iskop tal-kompostjar għandu jkun ta’ natura bijodegradabbli li ma tfixkilx il-ġbir separat u l-proċess jew l-attività tal-kompostjar li fihom jiddahhal.

(d) L-imballaġġ bijodegradabbli

DATA TO BE INCLUDED BY MEMBER STATES IN THEIR DATABASES ON PACKAGING AND PACKAGING WASTE (IN ACCORDANCE WITH TABLES 1 TO 4)

L-iskart mill-imballaġġ bijodegradabbli għandu jkun ta’ natura li jkun kapaċi jgħaddi minn dekompożizzjoni fiżika, kimika, termali jew bijoloġika tant li ħafna mill-kompost li jibqa’ jiddekomponi fl-aħħar f’dijossidu karboniku, bijomassa u ilma.

1. For primary, secondary and tertiary packaging:

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(a) quantities, for each broad category of material, of packaging consumed within the country (produced + imported − exported) (Table 1);

L-ANNESS III

(b) quantities reused (Table 2).

L-INFORMAZZJONI LI GĦANDHA TIĠI INKLUŻA FID-DATABASES DWAR IMBALLAĠĠ U L-ISKART TA’ L-IMBALLAĠĠ (SKOND IT-TABELLI 1 SA 4)

2. For household and non-household packaging waste:

1. Għall-imballaġġ primarju, sekondarju u terzjarju:

(a) quantities for each broad category of material, recovered and disposed of within the country (produced + imported − exported) (Table 3);

(a) il-kwantitajiet, għal kull kategorija wiesgħa tal-materjal, ta’ l-imballaġġ ikkonsumat fil-pajjiż (prodott + importat – esportat) (Tabella 1);

(b) quantities recycled and quantities recovered for each broad category of material (Table 4).

(b) il-kwantitajiet użati mill-ġdid (Tabella 2).

>TABLE>

2. Għall-iskart mill-imballaġġ domestiku u mhux domestiku:

>TABLE>

(a) il-kwantitajiet, għal kull kategorija wiesgħa tal-materjal, irkuprati u meqruda fil-pajjiż (prodott + importat – esportat) (Tabella 3);

>TABLE>

(b) il-kwantitajiet riċiklati u l-kwantitajiet irkuprati għal kull kategorija wiesgħa tal-materjal (Tabella 4).

>TABLE>

IT-TABELLA 1

Il-kwantità ta’ imballaġġ (primarju, sekondarju u terzjarju) ikkonsumat fit-territorju nazzjonali

| It-tunnellaġġ prodott | - It-tunnellaġġ esportat | + It-tunnellaġġ importat | = It-total |

Il-ħġieġ | | | | |

Il-plastik | | | | |

Il-karta/il-kartun (inklużi dawk komposti) | | | | |

Il-metalli | | | | |

L-injam | | | | |

Oħrajn | | | | |

It-total | | | | |

IT-TABELLA 2

Il-kwantità ta’ l-imballaġġ (primarju, sekondarju u terzjarju) użat mill-ġdid fit-territorju nazzjonali

| It-tunnellaġġ ta’ l-imballaġġ ikkonsumat | L-imballaġġ użat mill-ġdid |

It-tunnellaġġ | Il-percentwal |

Il-ħġieġ | | |

Il-plastik | | | |

Il-karta/il-kartun (inklużi dawk komposti) | | | |

Il-metall | | | |

L-injam | | | |

Oħrajn | | | |

It-total | | | |

IT-TABELLA 3

Il-kwantità ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ irkuprat u meqrud fit-territorju nazzjonali

| It-tunnellaġġ ta’ l-iskart prodott | - It-tunnellaġġ ta’ l-iskart esportat | + It-tunnellaġġ ta’ l-iskart importat | = It-total |

L-iskart domestiku | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-ħġieġ | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-plastik | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-karta/tal-kartun | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-kartun kompost | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-metall | | | | |

L-imballaġġ ta’ l-injam | | | | |

It-total ta’ l-imballaġġ ta’ l-iskart domestiku | | | | |

L-iskart mhux domestiku | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-ħġieġ | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-plastik | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-karta/tal-kartun | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-kartun kompost | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-metall | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-injam | | | | |

It-total ta’ l-imballaġġ ta’ l-iskart mhux domestiku | | | | |

IT-TABELLA 4

Il-kwantità ta’ l-iskart mill-imballaġġ riċiklat jew irkuprat fit-territorju nazzjonali

| It-tunnellaġġ totali rkuprat u meqrud | Il-kwantità riċiklata | Il-kwantità rkuprata |

It-tunnellaġġ | Il-percentwal | It-tunnellaġġ | Il-percentwal |

L-iskart domestiku | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-ħġieġ | | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-plastik | | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-karta/kartun | | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-kartun kompost | | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-metall | | | | | |

L-imballaġġ ta’ l-injam | | | | | |

It-total ta’ l-imballaġġ ta’ l-domestiku | | | | | |

L-iskart mhux domestiku | | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-ħġieġ | | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-plastik | | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-karta/kartun | | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-kartun kompost | | | | | |

L-imballaġġ tal-metall | | | | | |

L-imballaġġ ta’ l-injam | | | | | |

It-total ta’ l-imballaġġ ta’ l-iskart mhux domestiku | | | | | |

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