On August 4, 2026, the Italian Council of Ministers approved a decree-an urgent regulation concerning the obligation to compost certain types of packaging (Decree No. 182)-which was published in the Official Gazette on August 7 and took effect the following day. According to the decree, the following packaged goods may be initially placed on the domestic market only if certified by an accredited body as meeting UNI EN 13432 standards or equivalent compostability standards recognized at the European level (i.e., possessing biodegradability and compostability):
• Single-use plastic packaging for pre-packaged fresh fruits and vegetables (net weight less than 1.5 kg);
• Single-use plastic packaging for food and beverages filled and consumed in hotels, restaurants, and catering establishments;
• Single-use plastic packaging used in hotels, restaurants, and the catering industry for single-serving condiments (including jams, sauces, coffee creamer, and sugar), except in the following cases:
1) Packaging provided for takeaway food that can be consumed immediately without further preparation;
2) Packaging necessary to ensure safety and hygiene in places with personal care medical requirements (such as hospitals, clinics, or nursing homes);
• The packaging of disposable cosmetics and toiletries for individual travelers in the hotel service industry will be subject to fines ranging from €2,500 to €25,000, depending on the regulations. If the value of the non-compliant packaging exceeds 10% of the entity's annual turnover, the fine can be increased to four times the original limit, up to a maximum of €100,000. All penalties will take effect on January 1, 2030.
The Italian government stated that these new regulations are to implement EU Regulation 2025/40, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). This EU regulation establishes a general principle: packaging placed on the market must be recyclable and restricts the use of certain single-use packaging from 2030. However, the regulation includes exemptions: member states can use compostable standards instead of the more stringent recyclable standards for specific types of packaging, provided that mandatory conditions are met and a mature and comprehensive organic waste management system is available locally.
These new regulations aim to maintain the domestic supply chain of compostable bioplastics and the production continuity of economic sectors using such packaging. The accompanying technical report explains that timely implementation of local regulations will not increase the burden on businesses; on the contrary, it is a prerequisite for Italy to invoke the EU exemption clause. Without this legislation, Italy would not be able to apply its own compostable standards to the aforementioned packaging categories and would have to fully comply with the EU's general recyclable management rules and related restrictions, significantly increasing compliance costs for the industry.
