By Andrea Hargraves 
After two postponements, the government once again postponed the entry into force of paying a tax of 30 cents on single-use aluminum containers for meals, but the measure takes effect today, according to an order published in Diário da República.
Initially scheduled for January 1, 2023, the start of collection of this tax on aluminum or multi-material packaging with aluminum in ready-to-eat meals has been postponed from December 31, 2022 to September 1. The entry into force date was adjusted again, moving to January 1, 2024, in light of the difficulties reported by economic operators.
“Taking into account the limitations expressed by various economic agents, as well as the need to expand the scope of application of this Decree to other materials, (…) it is considered necessary to ensure the immediate expansion of the scope of production of impacts” Application of the contribution to single-use packaging made of Aluminum or multi-material with aluminum,” reads the decree.
However, the 30 cent fee has been in place since July 2022 on single-use plastic packaging for ready-to-eat meals. At the origin of this measure, according to the decree, is “the need to deepen the path of transition to a circular economy, promoting the continuous reduction in the consumption of single-use packaging and the consequent reduction in the volume of waste generated.”