Environmental Omnibus: "naming a representative for EPR schemes must stay mandatory" (Recycling Europe)

"Recycling Europe calls for the appointment of an authorised representative (for companies which are not present in the Member States where they operate) to remain mandatory and urges the Commission and co-legislators to reconsider their approach, as they propose to be make it optional under the Environmental Omnibus", declares the organisation on 10/03/2026.

Although the voice of the recycling industry welcomes the proposal of the Commission to reduce the administrative burden through the Environmental Omnibus, presented on 10/12/2025, they worry about the watering down of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes in the proposal.

"The implementation of well-functioning EPR schemes is key to supporting the EU’s circularity objectives across all waste streams." In this regard, Recycling Europe shares "concerns about the proposal to suspend, until 2035, the obligation for producers to appoint an authorised representative in Member States where they are not established", one of the measures announced in the December package.

They highlight two main risks of this optional…