Spanish bars and restaurants, along with supermarkets, are not currently required to add a 10-cent deposit to every bottle or can sold. The confusion stems from the upcoming EU Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste, which becomes generally applicable across Europe on August 12, 2026. That date does not trigger mandatory deposits in Spain.
The Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition has clarified that although the regulation sets a broad structure, many obligations, including the deposit system, will take effect later. Spain is under pressure to introduce a national Deposit, Return and Refund System (SDDR) after missing the EU target for separate collection of plastic bottles: just 42.3% were collected in 2023, well below the 70% goal.
Deposit System Not Automatic
Under Spain’s Royal Decree 1055/2022, producers have two years from the official notification of non-compliance to implement the SDDR. The responsible systems will set the deposit amount, which must be at least 10 cents per unit. This minimum is a Spanish legal requirement, not a direct EU mandate. The system will cover certain plastic bottles and other beverage containers, including cans and cartons. Its launch date depends on when Spain formally notifies producers and completes the necessary legal steps.
What Changes in August 2026?
From August 12, 2026, the EU regulation brings some immediate changes, including restrictions on certain PFAS chemicals in food-contact packaging. Most obligations, including harmonized labeling and ambitious reuse targets, are delayed, with deadlines beginning in 2027 and extending through 2028 to 2030. Until Spain updates its own laws, the EU regulation and Royal Decree 1055/2022 will coexist where their provisions align.
For example, the ban on single-use plastic sachets and containers in hospitality, such as sugar packets and sauce portions, will not take effect until January 1, 2030. The regulation allows some exceptions, including packaging for basic point food and packaging used in hospitals or care facilities, as detailed in Annex V.
How the Deposit Will Work
Once the SDDR is operational, retailers will add the deposit to the price of eligible containers. Consumers can reclaim the amount by returning empty packaging to designated collection points, such as shops or other authorized locations, including dedicated centers. Small shops with less than 120 square meters of sales space may be subject to special rules.
The EU regulation also allows member states to exempt certain containers opened and consumed on-site in hospitality venues from the deposit, provided the empty packaging stays in the establishment. By 2029, Spain must achieve a 90% separate collection rate for specific beverage containers, in line with EU targets. For more on how major retailers are responding, see this report on Mercadona’s approach to the deposit scheme.
In The Future
The practical impact of the EU’s new rules on Spanish consumers and businesses will unfold gradually. The deposit system’s timeline depends on national implementation, while many basic changes, including bans on single-use items and new labeling requirements, are still several years away. For now, shoppers will not see a 10-cent charge added to every bottle or can at checkout.
