The use of the Green Dot on packaging was intended to be subject to a penalty payment in France as of April 1, 2021. Recently however, the French Conseil d’État, the highest French Administrative Court, has granted urgent requests for the immediate suspension of the respective regulations.

In the opinion of the legislator in France, the use of the Green Dot on packaging leads to confusion with regard to the sorting rules. According to the new provisions, a penalty equal to double the contribution for take-back and recycling of packaging would have to be paid to the French packaging system for the use of the Green Dot.

Various organisations had submitted urgent motions to stop the implementation of the new legislation. In addition to discrimination against the Green Dot, those organisations saw disadvantages for manufacturers due to high additional costs. The final decision will be taken in the main proceedings, which are expected to last up to 18 months.