EU Council agrees Omnibus VIII position, with EPR representative rules and small-producer relief in scope
The Council of the EU agreed on 30 September 2026 its position on proposals within the Omnibus VIII simplification package to accelerate environmental assessments and permitting. The package also includes a proposal to suspend rules on appointing an authorised representative for extended producer responsibility (EPR), and Member States agreed to explore a targeted solution for small packaging producers' EPR obligations under PPWR. Negotiations with the European Parliament will start once it adopts its own position, with the Irish presidency aiming for agreement by year-end.
Why this mattersA lighter EPR authorised-representative regime and targeted relief for small producers would ease PPWR compliance costs without changing the regulation's core recyclability and content rules.
- Council of the EU set its position on environmental assessment simplification on 30 September 2026
- Omnibus VIII amends six EU legal acts including rules on EPR authorised representatives
- Member States agreed to explore a targeted solution for small packaging producers' EPR obligations under PPWR
- PPWR has applied since 12 August 2026 and its recyclability, recycled-content and EPR requirements remain in force
- Irish presidency of the Council aims for agreement with the European Parliament by end of 2026
- The wider 'One Europe, One Market' roadmap targets completion of all simplification packages by end of 2027