Italy’s Bold Compostable Packaging Rule Is Now in Force
Italy’s Bold Compostable Packaging Rule Is Now in Force
Italy has made certified compostability mandatory for several categories of single-use plastic packaging placed on the national market for the first time. The rule took effect on 8 August 2026, the day after Decree-Law No. 143 of 7 August 2026 was published in Official Gazette No. 182.
The key distinction for businesses is simple: the obligation is already in force, but the new administrative penalties will apply only from 1 January 2030. That later enforcement date should not be read as a postponement of the underlying requirement.
Key facts at a glance
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Measure: Decree-Law No. 143 of 7 August 2026
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Effective date: 8 August 2026
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Standard: UNI EN 13432 or an equivalent European-recognised compostability standard
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Certification: issued by an accredited body
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New penalties: from €2,500 to €25,000, applicable from 1 January 2030
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Higher exposure: up to four times the €25,000 maximum in the turnover-based case specified by the decree
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Legal status: the decree-law is effective now but must be converted into law by Parliament
Which packaging is covered?
The decree adds Article 226-quinquies to Italy’s Environmental Code. It covers four main groups of single-use plastic packaging when first made available on the Italian market.
Pre-packed fresh produce
Single-use plastic packaging for less than 1.5 kilograms of pre-packed fresh fruit and vegetables must be certified biodegradable and compostable.
Food and drink consumed on hospitality premises
The rule also covers single-use plastic packaging filled with food or beverages and intended for consumption in hotels, restaurants and catering premises.
Individual condiment portions
Single-portion packs used in hotels, restaurants and catering are included. The decree specifically mentions preserves, sauces, coffee cream and sugar.
There are exceptions for packaging supplied with ready-to-go food intended for immediate consumption without further preparation, and packaging needed for safety and hygiene where an individual medical-care requirement applies, including hospitals, clinics and nursing homes.
Hotel cosmetics and hygiene products
Flexible single-use packs for cosmetics and hygiene products in accommodation businesses are covered when they are intended for one booking and disposed of before the next guest arrives.
Certification is not optional
Covered packaging must be certified by an accredited body as biodegradable and compostable under UNI EN 13432 or an equivalent standard recognised at European level. A supplier’s unsupported environmental claim is not a substitute for certification.
The decree expressly brings misleading or evasive declarations of conformity within the penalty provision. Businesses should therefore verify certificates, the accredited status of the issuing body and the exact products or formats covered by each document. compostable packaging rule
What happens in 2030?
From 1 January 2030, violations will be subject to an administrative fine ranging from €2,500 to €25,000, unless the conduct constitutes a criminal offence.
The decree states that the sanction can rise to as much as four times the maximum where the value of the packaging involved exceeds 10% of the offender’s turnover. Four times €25,000 is €100,000.
The gap between the effective date and the start of the new sanction regime creates a transition period for enforcement, not a delayed start to the compostability obligation itself.
How the measure fits the EU packaging framework
The decree refers directly to Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste, known as the PPWR. Italy is using the option available to Member States with suitable systems for collecting and treating organic waste to introduce national compostability requirements for specified packaging.
The Italian rule does not displace other obligations. Packaging that comes into contact with food must still meet applicable food-contact rules. Existing restrictions on certain single-use plastic products also remain in place, and the decree incorporates specified PPWR exemptions subject to the conditions in the EU regulation.
Industry response and an essential caveat
Assobioplastiche welcomed the measure as regulatory certainty for Italy’s compostable-bioplastics supply chain. That is an industry position, not an independent assessment of the measure’s environmental or economic effects.
There is also a legal caveat: this is a decree-law, not a legislative decree. It is immediately effective but must be presented to Parliament for conversion. Its text may therefore change during the conversion process, and businesses should monitor the final conversion law.
What companies should do now
Businesses that manufacture, import, distribute or use potentially covered packs should begin with a product-by-product review.
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Map packaging against the four categories in Article 226-quinquies.
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Check whether an exemption or an existing single-use-plastic prohibition applies.
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Obtain valid UNI EN 13432 certification, or certification to a recognised equivalent standard, from an accredited body.
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Retain certificates, supplier declarations, technical files and purchasing records.
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Review environmental claims so that wording is precise and supported.
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Track the parliamentary conversion of Decree-Law No. 143/2026 and any implementing guidance.
For borderline products, legal and technical advice is preferable to relying on a broad label such as “biodegradable.” The decree requires certified compostability and preserves separate rules for food-contact materials and waste management.
Frequently asked questions
Is the compostable packaging rule already in force?
Yes. Decree-Law No. 143/2026 took effect on 8 August 2026.
Do the fines already apply?
No. The new administrative penalties specified in the decree apply from 1 January 2030. The substantive obligation, however, is already effective.
Is every single-use plastic package covered?
No. The rule identifies specific packaging categories and includes qualifications and exemptions. Each format and use case should be assessed individually.
Is “biodegradable” wording enough?
No. Covered packaging must be certified biodegradable and compostable by an accredited body under UNI EN 13432 or an equivalent standard recognised in Europe.
Can the rule still change?
Yes. Because it is a decree-law, Parliament must convert it into law. Amendments are possible during that process.
Sources
PET Bottle Recycling Rules: EU Clarifies Recycled Content Calculations
