Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister will implement a central registry to increase transparency and surveillance of the disposal and recycling of packaging.

Berlin/Frankfurt—The Global law firm Dentons has advised BHIM Zentrale Werkstoffstelle Projektgesellschaft mbH on the establishment of the Foundation Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister. The foundation, headquartered in Osnabrueck, was presented to the public today in Berlin. Its founders include the Federal Association of the German Food Industry (Bundesvereinigung der deutschen Ernaehrungsindustrie e.V. (be)), the German Retail Association (Handelsverband Deutschland – HDE – e.V.), the German Association for Plastic Packaging (IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e.V., as well as the German Brands Association (Markenverband e.V.). The lawyer Gunda Rachut has been appointed as the leader of the Board of Directors.

The foundation was created on the basis of Germany’s recently adopted Packaging Act (VerpackG) and will begin its work in January 2019, when the law becomes fully effective. It will be entrusted with administrative powers and will then act as the so-called “central authority” according to the new Packaging Act. Its preparations to set up the registry have already begun. Moreover, the central authority will monitor notifications of distribution/licensing amounts of producers of packaging on the one hand and of collection and recycling systems (duale Systeme) on the other hand. In agreement with the German Federal Environment Agency, which has the legal and supervisory power over the central authority, it will also determine and publish standards for recycling-friendly packaging design. Further, it will be responsible for calculating the market shares of the dual systems operating in Germany, the calculation being the basis for the allocation of waste disposal costs throughout Germany.

Dentons has advised BHIM Zentrale Werkstoffstelle Projektgesellschaft since its foundation in 2015, on complex issues of administrative, constitutional, competition, public procurement, tax, employment and corporate law.
Advisors BHIM Zentrale Wertstoffstelle Projektgesellschaft mbH:

* Dentons (Berlin): Dr. Ilka Mehdorn (Partner, Regulatory, project lead), Dr. Jörg Karenfort (Partner, Competition), Dr. Matthias Santelmann (Partner, Corporate), Dr. Wolfram Krohn (Partner, Regulatory and Public Procurement Law), Dr. Stephan Busch (Partner, Tax), Dr. Markus Diepold (Partner, Employment), Dr. Julia Zeitz-Krüger (Counsel, Regulatory), Dr. Norman Hölzel (Senior Associate, Competition), Laura Appell (Senior Associate, Regulatory), David Müller (Associate, Regulatory), Bernd Düsterbeck (Associate, Corporate)
* Dentons (Frankfurt): Dr. Katharina Scheja (Partner, IT)