Where the Member State allows it, final distributors may pool to meet the beverage re-use target together rather than each hitting 10% alone -- up to five members, up to 40% of the relevant beverage category's market share.
Final distributors subject to the Art. 29(6) beverage target are given a right, and this is law in force.
Why it matters
This is law in force, not a proposal.
- It is Art. 29(12), in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. as of 2026-08-18
- The act gives its timing as: From 1 January 2030 (Art. 29(6)). as of 2026-08-18
- It names one industry by name: Retail. as of 2026-08-18
- Compliance is checked by competent authority, per calendar year. as of 2026-08-18
What changes
Smaller grocery chains in Member States that switch pooling on. The conditionality is real and is carried in `trigger`: this faculty does not exist unless the Member State creates it, so its availability differs across the internal market.
The rule
a Member State that has allowed pooling, and a pool within the 40% market-share and five-member limits (the member limit not applying to distributors under one brand)
Where the Member State allows it, final distributors may pool to meet the beverage re-use target together rather than each hitting 10% alone -- up to five members, up to 40% of the relevant beverage category's market share.
Who is affected
Burden drivers
No size threshold.
Source text
Member States may allow final distributors to form pools for the purpose of meeting their obligations laid down in paragraph 6, provided that each pool: (a) does not exceed more than 40 % of the market share of the relevant beverage category; (b) consists of no more than five final distributors; and (c) only covers beverage categories made available on the territory of a Member State by all pool members.
View source →Settled later in secondary legislation. The detailed conditions and reporting requirements for pooling are set by delegated act due 1 January 2028 (Art. 29(12), final subparagraph). Pool members must also satisfy Arts. 101 and 102 TFEU and must not share prospective sales data.