Effective from 1 October 2025, substantial changes will take effect in Hungary regarding extended producer responsibility, i.e. EPR fees, as well as service fees for products subject to deposit and return system. These updates are detailed in Decree 28/2025 (IX.22.) of the Hungarian Ministry for Energy, which amends Decree 22/2024 (XI.28.). The new regulation introduces mid-year fee increases for several circular product and packaging categories, as well as for the motor vehicles.
Products subject to deposit and return system
Service fees for products subject to deposit and return system will mostly remain unchanged, with the exception of two categories:
Extended producer responsibility fees
The most extensive and significant changes are observed in the extended producer responsibility fees, i.e. the EPR fee for packaging and other circular products:
Changes in flat-rate EPR fee for vehicles
Flat-rate EPR fee for vehicles will also rise significantly across all categories:
Key points the October EPR fee changes
In summary, businesses in Hungary should prepare for the following key EPR fee increases:
- No change in EPR fee for plastic, paper, and metal packaging, and for the following product categories: heat exchangers, monitors, small and large equipments, portable and industrial batteries, office paper, tyres, single-use plastic items.
- Service fee increases for non-reusable metal (+6.5%) and non-reusable glass (+9.1%)
- Moderate EPR fee increases: wooden packaging, textile products, composite packaging
- Mid-range EPR fee increases: used cooking oil and fats, glass packaging, lamps, automotive batteries and vehicles
- Highest EPR fee increases: advertising paper (+117%) and wooden furniture (+200%)
- Flat-rate EPR fee for vehicles will rise across all categories, with increases ranging from +28% to +60%, depending on vehicle type.
What should businesses do?
Companies in Hungary, which are affected by the changes should proactively assess the financial and administrative impact of the new EPR fees. As the new rates come into effect on 1 October 2025, businesses are advised to:
- update cost forecasts for the remainder of 2025 and the 2026 fiscal year and
- evaluate opportunities to reduce EPR costs, such as switching to more sustainable, recyclable material and reducing packaging volume wherever possible.
The tax consulting team of WTS Klient Hungary is staffed with qualified EPR and environmental product fee advisers to assist clients with their enquiries on product fees, circular products and the extended producer responsibility scheme. If you need specialist help with this, please do not hesitate to contact us.
This article provides general information and does not constitute advice.
