The European Commission has raised serious concerns about the key European Union packaging and packaging waste directive as regards the drinks industry.

In a detailed policy review, released today (13 December), the EC has noted the legal problems associated with Germany's non-refillable container mandatory deposit system: "the use of taxation to drive packaging policy can potentially disrupt the internal market if the taxes are applied in a way that protects local producers," it said.

As a result, the Commission will "further evaluate the need to clarify or amend the provisions of articles five and seven of the…directive".

Article five allows member states to impose national rules encouraging the reuse of packaging in an environmentally-sound way; and article seven sets down rules on return, collection and recovery systems.