The topic of the meeting was AmCham's position " Comments on the Ordinance on Packaging and Packaging Waste, Single-use Plastics, and Fishing Gear Containing Plastic”, which focuses on the labeling of beverage packaging. The Ordinance proscribes provision on double labeling of beverage packaging, i.e., packaging intended for the Croatian market with a deposit refund label and packaging intended for export without a deposit refund label.

Andrea Doko Jelušić, Executive Director of AmCham, welcomed the current system of return fees for beverage packaging, which exists in Croatia for many years, and is increasingly becoming a standard in all developed countries. The proposed Ordinance complicates the production of beverages in Croatia with an inevitable increase in production costs. AmCham believes that it is possible to find a joint solution that would respect all positive legislative solutions for the green transition, would not financially damage the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency, and would treat beverage producers in an optimal way administratively and financially.

Minister Marija Vučković is well informed about the topic and has announced an imminent solution and a proposal that should be acceptable to everyone. She additionally emphasized the importance of communication between all involved stakeholders and the value of analyzing the situation when making legislative decisions.

AmCham representatives at the meeting were Andrea Doko Jelušić, AmCham; Sandra Bartolec Kovačević, Coca-Cola HBC Croatia; Marijana Klobučar, Atlantic grupa; Ivančica Krajačić Profozić, Heineken Croatia; Ana Ofner, Zagrebačka pivovara; Andrea Veselčić, Coca-Cola Adria and Dražen Malbasic, AmCham.