MEP Stefan Köhler (PPE) has raised concerns about the upcoming implementation of the new Waste Shipment Regulation (EU) 2024/1157, warning that unresolved technical and practical issues could disrupt recycling chains and harm European businesses. In a priority written question to the European Commission dated 7 May 2026, Köhler highlighted that the regulation, which enters into force in May 2026, still faces significant uncertainties, particularly for medium-sized enterprises. He noted that professional associations are already warning of severe disruptions to central recycling chains, competitive disadvantages for European companies, and a near standstill in intra-EU trade of non-hazardous waste.
Köhler's question contains three concrete demands. First, he asks whether the Commission is aware that, two months before implementation, it remains impossible to register or log into the compulsory digital platform, which is essential for compliance. Second, he presses the Commission on whether it plans to revise the regulation to address the virtually unworkable two-day deadline for registering waste quantities, the need for flexibility in using subcontractors, and the protection of trade secrets along the value chain. Third, he asks whether the Commission is considering postponing the regulation's application date in light of foreseeable implementation issues.
The question reflects a policy orientation that seeks to balance environmental goals with practical business realities, advocating for more flexibility and longer transition periods to avoid economic disruption. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks, and its answer will signal whether it is open to delaying or amending the regulation. This issue primarily affects EU waste management companies, recycling operators, and medium-sized enterprises that rely on cross-border waste shipments, as well as national authorities tasked with enforcement. The outcome could determine whether the regulation's ambitious circular economy objectives are achieved without unintended economic harm.