Korea's SME ministry hears exporters' concerns over EU packaging rules
In short
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups held a meeting in Seoul on 20 October with small exporters on the EU's packaging regulation (PPWR). Firms cited difficulty getting hazardous-substance data from suppliers, testing costs and the burden of English technical documents. The ministry said it would strengthen cost support, training and counselling.
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The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (중소벤처기업부) said it held an 'EU PPWR response SME meeting' on 20 October at Startup Venture Campus (SVC) Seoul in Mapo District. The meeting was meant to hear the difficulties small exporters face under the EU's packaging and packaging waste regulation (PPWR) and to discuss government support, according to Asia Economy. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
About ten people attended, including heads of beauty, food and packaging SMEs and experts. KTR (한국화학융합시험연구원) presented the main points of the regulation and the response status. Asia Economy said Shim Jae-yoon (심재윤), the ministry's global growth policy official, chaired the meeting. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
The firms said it was hard to obtain information on hazardous-substance content from packaging suppliers, that product-by-product testing and analysis was costly, and that writing English technical documents and declarations of conformity was difficult. Chosun Ilbo added that firms said they lacked the staff and expertise for the documents. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The documents describe PPWR as applying to the packaging of products placed on the EU market. Asia Economy and Chosun Ilbo said it also covers companies outside the EU. Exporters to Europe must have technical documents showing that packaging meets hazardous-substance limits, such as for heavy metals and PFAS, and an EU declaration of conformity (DoC). From 2030, requirements including recycled content are to apply in stages. Newsis said the regulation took full effect in August. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The ministry said that since April it has supported the whole PPWR response, from training and diagnosis to testing, technical documents and appointing an EU representative. Asia Economy and Chosun Ilbo said this covers 100 firms, up to 7 million won each and within 70% of total cost. The ministry also included PPWR in the strategic support of its overseas standards certification programme, covering 50-70% of costs, up to 100 million won. Firms can apply until the 30th of next month. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The ministry plans PPWR training and counselling sessions in five regions from the 16th to the 25th of next month, with an introduction of the regulation and one-to-one expert counselling. Shim said PPWR is going beyond a simple environmental regulation to become a requirement for entering the European market, and that the ministry will strengthen cost support, training and counselling based on feedback from the field so that small firms' exports are not disrupted. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The documents say the regulation applies to packaging of all products placed on the EU market, so Korean small exporters must prepare technical documents and a declaration of conformity. The ministry's official said it is becoming a requirement for entering the European market.
Key facts
- The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (중소벤처기업부) held an 'EU PPWR response SME meeting' on 20 October at Startup Venture Campus (SVC) Seoul in Mapo District. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- About ten people attended, including heads of beauty, food and packaging SMEs and experts; KTR (한국화학융합시험연구원) presented the main points of the regulation and the response status. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Firms cited difficulty obtaining hazardous-substance information from packaging suppliers, the cost of product-by-product testing and analysis, and the burden of writing English technical documents and declarations of conformity. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Exporters to Europe must have technical documents proving that packaging meets hazardous-substance limits (such as heavy metals and PFAS) and an EU declaration of conformity (DoC). [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Since April the ministry has supported the whole PPWR response process, up to 7 million won per firm for 100 firms. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The overseas standards certification programme's strategic support now covers PPWR, with 50-70% of costs, up to 100 million won; applications are taken until the 30th of next month. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The ministry plans PPWR training and counselling sessions in five regions from the 16th to the 25th of next month. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The ministry held the meeting on 20 October at SVC Seoul to hear SME exporters' difficulties with the EU packaging regulation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Attending firms reported trouble obtaining hazardous-substance data from suppliers, testing and analysis costs, and drafting English technical documents and declarations of conformity. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- From 2030, further requirements including recycled content are to apply. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The ministry offers 50-70% of costs, up to 100 million won, under the strategic support of the overseas standards certification programme. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The ministry supports PPWR response for 100 firms, up to 7 million won per firm. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the 100-firm package is still open or already fully allocated. Two documents describe support for 100 firms as ongoing, while one says up to 7 million won was already provided to 100 firms.
- Date the regulation took effect. Only one outlet says it began full enforcement in August; the others do not give a start date.
- How to apply for the training and counselling sessions. Only one outlet says applications are taken on the 'Education application' menu of the SME export regulation support centre website.