The Union of Eurasian Beverage Producers discussed with experts and business community the issue of possible restrictions on PET packaging in Kyrgyzstan

Maxim Novikov, the Chairman of#nbsp;the Eurasian Beverage Union, took part in#nbsp;the round table "Some legislative incentives for environmental initiatives in#nbsp;Kyrgyzstan: international practice". The event, organized with the support of#nbsp;the International Business Council (IBC), brought together representatives of#nbsp;the expert community of#nbsp;the EAEU countries, business and authorities.

The open dialog format allowed to#nbsp;review comprehensively the issues of#nbsp;extended producer responsibility and development of#nbsp;the environmental agenda. One of#nbsp;the key issues of#nbsp;the event was the discussion of#nbsp;the draft law proposing to#nbsp;restrict PET packaging on#nbsp;the territory of#nbsp;Kyrgyzstan. Experts noted that for more effective development of#nbsp;global environmental objectives, it#nbsp;is#nbsp;necessary to#nbsp;consider the launch of#nbsp;extended producer responsibility mechanisms at#nbsp;first and only after that any possible restrictions on#nbsp;certain types of#nbsp;packaging.

Maxim Novikov, the Chairman of#nbsp;the Union, noted that the industry shares the idea of#nbsp;the need to#nbsp;increase the level of#nbsp;environmental friendliness in#nbsp;the consumer sector, and supports the development of#nbsp;projects aimed at#nbsp;caring for the environment in#nbsp;the EAEU. "At the same time, we#nbsp;want to#nbsp;note that this work should be#nbsp;carried out progressively and coordinated with the business and consumer community to#nbsp;avoid serious socio-economic risks," Maxim Novikov said. —#nbsp;Today, Kyrgyzstan is#nbsp;discussing a#nbsp;ban on#nbsp;the circulation of#nbsp;some types of#nbsp;PET packaging, including one of#nbsp;the most popular and widespread types of#nbsp;packaging#nbsp;— PET bottles. This type of#nbsp;beverage packaging is#nbsp;not only one of#nbsp;the most common in#nbsp;the Eurasian market, but also one of#nbsp;the most environmentally friendly, as#nbsp;it#nbsp;can be#nbsp;recycled many times and thus reduce the carbon footprint. PET production complies with the existing provisions of#nbsp;international environmental documents, in#nbsp;particular, the implementation of#nbsp;solutions specified in#nbsp;the#nbsp;UN Framework Convention on#nbsp;Climate Change".

It#nbsp;is#nbsp;important to#nbsp;take into account that the mass replacement of#nbsp;PET bottles at#nbsp;the state level will increase the level of#nbsp;returns in#nbsp;retail chains. The introduction of#nbsp;such a#nbsp;restriction will have a#nbsp;negative impact on#nbsp;the activities of#nbsp;enterprises, since production lines are initially designed for a#nbsp;specific type of#nbsp;packaging solution. Thus, the proposed bill will lead to#nbsp;a#nbsp;situation in#nbsp;which food production facilities will be#nbsp;forced to#nbsp;significantly reduce the output of#nbsp;finished products, as#nbsp;well as#nbsp;to#nbsp;increase prices for products manufactured in#nbsp;other packaging solutions. Deterioration of#nbsp;the business situation, caused by#nbsp;the increased regulatory burden, may lead to#nbsp;the loss of#nbsp;jobs and significant losses from the budget.

The Union of#nbsp;Eurasian Beverage Producers draws attention to#nbsp;the fact that the Russian Federation has conducted 2 studies on#nbsp;the feasibility of#nbsp;restricting the use of#nbsp;certain types of#nbsp;polymer packaging, which resulted in#nbsp;the list of#nbsp;6 items, the restriction of#nbsp;turnover of#nbsp;which will not cause significant socio-economic and environmental losses. This experience may help to#nbsp;continue work in#nbsp;this direction in#nbsp;a#nbsp;balanced way and without prejudice to#nbsp;all participants of#nbsp;the process.

The Union of#nbsp;Eurasian Beverage Producers proposes to#nbsp;exclude the provision on#nbsp;banning PET on#nbsp;the territory of#nbsp;the Republic of#nbsp;Kyrgyzstan and to#nbsp;support business initiatives aimed at#nbsp;increasing the collection and re-involvement of#nbsp;PET packaging in#nbsp;production.