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Packaging obligations in Croatia (2026)

Draft

Verified on: 2026-09-01

EU framework: PPWR (EU) 2025/40, applicable since 12 Aug 2026

National: Zakon o gospodarenju otpadom (Waste Management Act, NN 84/21); Pravilnik o ambalaži i otpadnoj ambalaži, plastičnim proizvodima za jednokratnu uporabu i ribolovnom alatu koji sadržava plastiku (Ordinance on packaging and packaging waste, single-use plastic products and fishing gear containing plastic, NN 137/23); Uredba o naknadi gospodarenja otpadom i povratnoj naknadi (Regulation on the waste management fee and the deposit refund, NN 137/24); Pravilnik o gospodarenju posebnim kategorijama otpada (Ordinance on the management of special categories of waste, NN 124/23)

Croatia does NOT operate a classic PRO model: the packaging system is run by the state Fond za zaštitu okoliša i energetsku učinkovitost (FZOEU, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund). Parties placing packaged products on the market have registered since January 2025 in the electronic Registar proizvođača s proširenom odgovornošću (RPPO, register of producers with extended responsibility), report quarterly (forms AOJ/AOP) and pay the naknada gospodarenja otpadom (waste management fee per tonne and material) to the Fund; for single-use beverage packaging 0.20–3 l the povratna naknada (deposit, €0.10 per unit since 1 Jan 2025, previously €0.07) is added. Competent ministry: Ministarstvo zaštite okoliša i zelene tranzicije (Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition). From 1 Jan 2027 the deposit system will be extended (including beverage cartons, further plastics such as HDPE, containers below 0.20 l). No de minimis threshold for small volumes is apparent.

Packaging EPR: RPPO registration and fees to the Environment Fund (Croatia)

Anyone placing packaged products on the Croatian market (manufacturers, importers, companies with intra-Community sourcing – under the Fund's practice also foreign online sellers shipping directly) registers in the Environment Fund's RPPO register, reports the packaging volumes quarterly and pays the Fund's waste management fees; for single-use beverage packaging the deposit system applies in addition.

Authorised representative: 
Foreign distance sellers without a Croatian establishment or OIB (Croatian identification number) fulfil their obligations, under the Fund's practice, via a representative resident in Croatia; service providers expressly offer the role of ovlašteni predstavnik (authorised representative – RPPO registration, reports, fee handling vis-à-vis the FZOEU) for foreign online sellers, based on the Zakon o gospodarenju otpadom (NN 84/21) and Pravilnik NN 137/23. In addition, Art. 45 PPWR has required an authorised representative since 12 Aug 2026 for distance selling into Member States without an establishment of your own.
Cross-border: 
The Environment Fund also expects foreign online sellers without a Croatian OIB number to fulfil the packaging EPR (registration, volume reporting, fees); according to service-provider information there is no de minimis volume threshold ('regardless of volume'). Anyone shipping beverages to Croatia must additionally observe the deposit labelling and the povratna naknada.
Costs: 
Naknada gospodarenja per tonne under Uredba NN 137/24, e.g. PET €54.42/t, paper/cardboard €49.77/t, glass €19.91/t, aluminium cans €54.42/t, plastic carrier bags €199.08/t; for single-use beverage packaging additionally a disposal fee of €0.01327 per sales unit plus a deposit of €0.10 per unit (milk/dairy products reduced). In the event of breaches of obligations, the Fund can apply a multiple (factor of up to 5).
Deadlines: 
RPPO registration mandatory since January 2025 (before starting to place goods on the market); quarterly AOJ/AOP reports to the Fund; povratna naknada of €0.10 since 1 Jan 2025; extension of the deposit system from 1 Jan 2027; PPWR authorised-representative obligation since 12 Aug 2026.

Typical steps

  1. Register in the FZOEU's RPPO register (digital form; mandatory for parties placing packaging on the market since January 2025).
  2. Report volumes quarterly: send form AOJ (single-use packaging) or AOP (reusable packaging) to the Fund (according to the FZOEU by the 10th day of the month after the end of the quarter).
  3. Pay the naknada gospodarenja by material and volume to the Fund (assessed by the Fund on the basis of the reports).
  4. For single-use beverage packaging (PET/glass/metal, 0.20–3 l): budget for the povratna naknada of €0.10 per unit and ensure the deposit labelling.
  5. Without an establishment in Croatia: appoint an ovlašteni predstavnik or PPWR authorised representative and document the power of attorney.
  6. Plan for the extension of the deposit system from 1 Jan 2027 (beverage cartons, HDPE, containers below 0.20 l) in your product range and costing.

Providers for this obligation

Interzero Kroatien (EPR-Croatia / ovlašteni predstavnik)

Sources: gov.hr – Ambalaža i otpadna ambalaža (System, Pfand 0,10 €, Erweiterung ab 01.01.2027, Pravilnik NN 137/23) (accessed 2026-09-01) · FZOEU – Naknada gospodarenja otpadom für Verpackungen (Pflichtige, Formulare AOJ/AOP, Quartalsfrist, Rechtsgrundlagen) (accessed 2026-09-01) · Narodne novine – Uredba o naknadi gospodarenja otpadom i povratnoj naknadi (NN 137/24; Entgeltsätze, Pfand 0,10 €, Registerbezug) (accessed 2026-09-01) · TEB – Ab 01.01.2025: Pfand 0,10 €, RPPO-Registrierungspflicht, digitales RPPO-Formular des FZOEU (accessed 2026-09-01) · Interzero Kroatien – Ovlašteni predstavnik für ausländische Fernverkäufer (RPPO, Meldungen, keine Bagatellgrenze) (accessed 2026-09-01) · Go4Recycling – Neue EPR-Pflichten in Kroatien für ausländische (Online-)Händler ohne OIB (accessed 2026-09-01) · FZOEU (EN) – Packaging and packaging waste fee (Entgeltarten, ältere Formulare AO3/AO10) (accessed 2026-09-01)

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Legal information, not legal advice. The linked official sources prevail; data marked “draft” has not been finally verified.