Image: MOEW
Under a newly proposed amendment to the Ordinance on the Procedure and Amount for Payment of Product Fees, the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) is introducing a significant reduction in product fees for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
Specifically, the draft lowers the state product fee for photovoltaic panels from the current €0.46/kg to €0.16/kg.
According to the Ministry, the proposed rate is aligned with European averages. It was established through a cost-oriented analysis accounting for the actual expenses of collecting, transporting, pre-treating, and recycling various WEEE streams, alongside a comparative review of practices across EU Member States.
The revised fees adhere to the principles of transparency, proportionality, and economic efficiency while reflecting national specifics. An independent cost-benefit analysis was conducted for each individual waste category.
This fee reduction does not lower environmental standards or statutory targets for separate collection, take-back, recycling, and recovery. It simply recalibrates the financial instrument to make it more cost-effective and benchmarked against European standards.
Following an initial public consultation and subsequent updates based on received feedback, the MOEW has opened an additional seven-day consultation period—running until August 24, 2026—to ensure full transparency. Once final input is reviewed, the updated draft will be submitted to the Council of Ministers for official approval.
Source: MOEW
