The European Union has adopted Regulation (EU) 2025/2365, a new set of binding rules designed to prevent plastic-pellet losses across the entire supply chain. The goal of the adoption is to achieve zero pellet losses and cut one of the main sources of microplastic pollution. The law was signed on 12 November 2025 and published on 26 November 2025.
Table of Contents
What Regulation (EU) 2025/2365 Is About
The regulation opens with a clear statement of microplastics being persistent, widespread and harmful to ecosystems and human health. They are found in soil, rivers, seas and even remote regions. Once plastic pellets reach the marine environment, they are almost impossible to remove and can remain for decades.
Pellets are often mistaken for fish eggs by seabirds and they make up roughly 70 % of the plastic eaten by seabirds, despite representing only a tiny share of plastic fragments floating at the surface. Large losses at sea have already happened, including spills during vessel incidents, which have washed millions of pellets onto coastlines.
Who Must Comply
The regulation applies to a wide group of actors:
- Economic operators handling at least 5 tonnes of pellets per year in the EU.
- Operators running facilities that clean pellet containers and tanks.
- EU and non-EU carriers transporting pellets by road, rail or inland waterways within the EU.
- Shippers, operators, agents and masters of seagoing vessels transporting pellets in containers leaving or calling at EU ports.
The scope is intentionally broad to cover handling, storage, cleaning, inland transport and maritime transport.
Core Obligations
Risk-management plans
Every installation must develop a detailed risk-management plan covering site layout, spill-risk points, vulnerable areas, high-risk handling steps, annual estimates of spills, and the equipment and procedures used to prevent, contain and clean up losses. A staff role responsible for recording and reporting spills must also be defined.
Prevention, Containment and Cleanup
Operators must follow a priority order:
- Prevent spills by avoiding unnecessary handling and using good-quality packaging.
- Contain any spills so pellets do not escape to the environment.
- Clean up spilled pellets in a way that avoids further environmental harm.
Certification for Large Handlers
Enterprises handling 1,500 tonnes or more per year must obtain a certificate confirming compliance with Annex I.
- Large enterprises must be certified by 17 December 2027 and then every 3 years.
- Medium-sized enterprises: by 17 December 2028, every 4 years.
- Small enterprises: by 17 December 2030, then every 5 years.
Certificates must follow the official format in Annex IV and include spot checks.
Transport Rules for Carriers
Carriers must prevent leakage during loading, unloading and transport by checking packaging integrity, closing ramps, cleaning compartments and using suitable equipment. They must also keep tools and containers on board for containment and cleanup.
For maritime transport, the regulation adds specific duties including good-quality packaging, proper stowage and timely information from shippers to vessel operators. Containers with pellets should be stowed under deck when possible or in protected positions on deck.
Incident Reporting
If a loss occurs that affects human health or the environment, operators must:
- Inform emergency services immediately.
- Take all possible measures to limit impact.
- Report estimated quantities lost, causes and actions taken within 30 days.
Penalties
Member States must impose penalties that are effective and dissuasive. For the most serious infringements by legal persons, administrative penalties must reach at least 3% of annual EU turnover.
Timeline for Application
- Most rules apply from 17 December 2027.
- Some articles apply much earlier, from 16 December 2025, including the designation of competent authorities by the Member States to follow up on the regulation’s topics
- Maritime-transport-specific provisions apply from 17 December 2028.
What This Means for the Packaging Industry
Packaging producers often handle large volumes of pellets and rely on pellet transport throughout their supply chains. The regulation requires them to:
- Map spill-risk points in their facilities.
- Adopt structured procedures for prevention and cleanup.
- Train staff and document compliance.
- Cooperate with transport partners to ensure container integrity and correct stowage.
- Prepare for certification if handling above the 1,500-tonne threshold.
Because the law is directly applicable in all Member States, companies cannot wait for national transposition. They must align their internal processes with the regulation itself.
Conclusion
Regulation (EU) 2025/2365 sets a high and clear standard for the handling of plastic pellets in Europe. It requires strong prevention measures, transparent reporting, and enforceable penalties. For the packaging industry, this means early planning, upgraded handling systems and closer coordination with transport partners. The regulation does not only seek to reduce pellet losses but aims to eliminate them. The coming years will show how effectively industry and authorities can turn that aim into everyday practice.
