Europe is a continent that is least rich in raw materials that are the basis of economic development. As raw materials are limited, they are consequently expensive, but at the same time available in the form of waste we all generate. Waste management reduces the expenditure on raw materials, it saves the energy, leads to a healthier life, and provides for a better future. Correspondingly, clearly formulated goals were set at European level so that all Member States could act jointly towards a common end and thus create a synergistic effect.
In accordance with the Waste Management Act (OG 84/2021), the producer of products generating waste, or the producer of waste, shall bear the costs of managing this waste in compliance with the principles of environmental protection laid down by the act governing environmental protection and acquis communautaire of the European Union, the principles of international environmental law, scientific knowledge, the best global practice and rules of profession and in particular the “polluter-pays principle” stipulating that the waste producer, the previous waste holder or the current waste holder shall bear the costs of waste management measures, and shall be financially liable for the implementation of remediation measures to be taken due to the damage caused or likely to be caused by waste.
In addition, Croatia has established the system for the management of special categories of waste, which is managed by the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund.
For the purposes of this Act, the producer of products means a legal or natural person – tradesman who is professionally involved in the development, manufacturing, processing, treatment, sale, introduction, import, or marketing of products and/or devices and/or equipment. Producer means introducer from EU countries, importer from third countries, and producers in the Republic of Croatia. Placing on the market means importing/introducing products in the territory of the Republic of Croatia i.e., making available for the first time on the market the products produced in Croatia
A person/entity subject to the fees and charges is obliged to report said activities and the quantity of the product and/or equipment for which they are issued a decision establishing the amount of the fee/charge they have to pay..
The obligation to report and pay the fee occurs:
Until the Register is set up, the entity subject to the fee/charge has to register in the Fund’s database by submitting the prescribed form, in accordance with the regulations governing individual fees and charges. In the case of import/introduction/sale of beverages in the deposit system (PET, glass, FE cans, AL cans with a volume over u 0.2 l), before the first-time placing on the market, it is necessary to fill out and submit to the Fund the table in Annex XII.
The data are submitted to the Fund in the set-out forms monthly, quarterly or annually, depending on the provisions of the implementing regulation. The form has to be submitted even if there was no marketing of products in the accounting period.
Certified forms can be submitted electronically, by e-mail at [email protected] , or in person or by post, at the address of the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, Radnička cesta 80, Zagreb.
Contact for all enquiries: [email protected]
Telephone contact for enquiries: 01/ 6459 759
What to do in the case of export of products?
The producer/importer/introducer that paid the fee to the Fund upon import/introduction/production, is entitled to a refund of the fee in the case of export of products. To exercise the right to a refund of any management fee, it is necessary to submit a filled out prescribed form accompanied by the obligatory documentation: an invoice (in the case of the amount) or a customs declaration MRN (in the case of export), with all other required documentation as the basis for establishing the information necessary to process the case (certified specifications and other documentation). It should be noted that for some fees and charges there is a clearly specified deadline for the submission of the requests for a refund, which has to be taken into account.
In accordance with the Waste Management Act (OG 84/2021), the producer of products generating waste, or the producer of waste, shall bear the costs of managing this waste in compliance with the principles of environmental protection laid down by the act governing environmental protection and acquis communautaire of the European Union, the principles of international environmental law, scientific knowledge, the best global practice and rules of profession and in particular the “polluter-pays principle” stipulating that the waste producer, the previous waste holder or the current waste holder shall bear the costs of waste management measures, and shall be financially liable for the implementation of remediation measures to be taken due to the damage caused or likely to be caused by waste.
In addition, Croatia has established the system for the management of special categories of waste, which is managed by the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund.
AM I / IS MY COMPANY SUBJECT TO THE CHARGE?
For the purposes of this Act, the producer of products means a legal or natural person – tradesman who is professionally involved in the development, manufacturing, processing, treatment, sale, introduction, import, or marketing of products and/or devices and/or equipment. Producer means introducer from EU countries, importer from third countries, and producers in the Republic of Croatia. Placing on the market means importing/introducing products in the territory of the Republic of Croatia i.e., making available for the first time on the market the products produced in Croatia
A person/entity subject to the fees and charges is obliged to report said activities and the quantity of the product and/or equipment for which they are issued a decision establishing the amount of the fee/charge they have to pay..
The obligation to report and pay the fee occurs:
- upon import from third countries – the basis for reporting is the date of the customs declaration - MRN (regardless of whether the product, device or equipment was introduced for own use or further sale);
- upon introduction from EU countries – the basis for reporting is the invoice date (regardless of whether the product, device or equipment was introduced for own use or further sale);
- upon selling on the territory of the Republic of Croatia – the basis for reporting is the invoice date.
Until the Register is set up, the entity subject to the fee/charge has to register in the Fund’s database by submitting the prescribed form, in accordance with the regulations governing individual fees and charges. In the case of import/introduction/sale of beverages in the deposit system (PET, glass, FE cans, AL cans with a volume over u 0.2 l), before the first-time placing on the market, it is necessary to fill out and submit to the Fund the table in Annex XII.
The data are submitted to the Fund in the set-out forms monthly, quarterly or annually, depending on the provisions of the implementing regulation. The form has to be submitted even if there was no marketing of products in the accounting period.
Certified forms can be submitted electronically, by e-mail at [email protected] , or in person or by post, at the address of the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, Radnička cesta 80, Zagreb.
Contact for all enquiries: [email protected]
Telephone contact for enquiries: 01/ 6459 759
What to do in the case of export of products?
The producer/importer/introducer that paid the fee to the Fund upon import/introduction/production, is entitled to a refund of the fee in the case of export of products. To exercise the right to a refund of any management fee, it is necessary to submit a filled out prescribed form accompanied by the obligatory documentation: an invoice (in the case of the amount) or a customs declaration MRN (in the case of export), with all other required documentation as the basis for establishing the information necessary to process the case (certified specifications and other documentation). It should be noted that for some fees and charges there is a clearly specified deadline for the submission of the requests for a refund, which has to be taken into account.