Italy Delays Plastic Tax For The 8th Time To 2027

The Italian government has once again postponed the implementation date of the plastic tax from July 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027. This decision is included in the Italian government budget plan for 2026-2028, which was passed this Tuesday. The plastic tax in Italy was introduced in 2020 through the superbonus decree, and so far, its implementation has been delayed 8 times.

The purpose of the law is to reduce the production and consumption of plastic, including a plastic tax of 0.45 euros per kilogram on non-recyclable plastic packaging. The products covered include bottles, shopping bags, food containers, milk cartons, EPS packaging, and plastic lids, among others. However, products made from compostable bioplastics or recycled plastics, as well as medical devices and pharmaceutical packaging, are exempt.

The law stipulates penalties for non-compliant companies, with fines amounting to 2-5 times the plastic tax due, with a minimum of 250 euros. Delayed plastic tax payments will also be penalized, incurring an administrative fee of 25% of the tax or at least 150 euros. The new budget has approved tax reductions totaling 18 billion euros over three years.