New EU regulation forces coffee shops to accept customer cups from 2027

Local euTop News New EU regulation forces coffee shops to accept customer cups from 2027 Kafeteria Take Away Cr 800x400 1 Relevant News New EU regulation forces coffee shops to accept customer cups from 2027 11 July 2026 Severe oil spill coats Paphos harbour after port authority tank failure 11 July 2026 Opposition slurs government over ‘disastrous’ digital television rollout 11 July 2026 Vassos Vassiliou 11 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber A major shift is coming for coffee lovers due to a new EU regulation that obliges all takeaway businesses to serve customers in their own reusable containers, provided the consumer chooses this option. Charalambos Theopemptou, the former chairman of the parliamentary Environment Committee, told Phileleftheros that because this measure is an EU regulation rather than a directive, it applies directly without requiring prior approval or legislation from parliament. The new system will take effect in 2027. Theopemptou noted that under the regulation, coffee shops have no choice but to accept and fill the containers brought in by customers according to their order, with no exemptions granted even for micro-enterprises. Furthermore, under Article 33(4) concerning reusable packaging, businesses must offer customers a reusable cup or container starting from 12 February 2028. Micro-enterprises are exempt from this specific requirement. Additionally, from 1 January 2030, businesses with designated seating areas, including tables, bars, or spaces for standing customers, will face a ban on single-use plastic packaging for food and beverages filled on-site. These new obligations target the final distributor within the HORECA sector, covering hotels, restaurants, and catering operations that offer hot or cold drinks in takeaway packaging. The definition of HORECA, found in Article 3(1) point 35, refers to accommodation and food service activities, meaning any cafeteria or coffee shop serving drinks for immediate consumption is legally required to comply. Theopemptou explained that the regulation also establishes the following provisions: Price and terms parity: Drinks served in a customer’s own container cannot cost more or be offered under less favourable terms compared to the same product in single-use packaging, according to Article 32(2). On-site customer notification: Businesses must inform customers via prominent and legible signs that they are permitted to bring their own containers. Refill framework rules: Under Article 28, customers must be informed about the acceptable types of containers, hygiene standards, and the fact that the customer bears sole liability for health and safety when using their own container. Refill station requirements: Outlets must display clear information regarding the hygiene standards containers must meet and the accepted types, alongside business contact details and a verified measuring device to ensure the price excludes the weight of the container. Right of refusal and liability waiver: Outlets retain the right to refuse to fill any container deemed dirty or unsuitable. Under Article 28(4), businesses carry no liability for hygiene or food safety issues arising from a customer’s container. Regarding the changes scheduled for 12 February 2028 under Article 33, businesses must go beyond the customer-owned option and provide a reusable packaging alternative within a reuse system, such as a multi-use cup via a return or deposit scheme. The requirement for clear signage and the price parity rule will also apply to this scheme. The exemption for micro-enterprises under Article 33(4) means that this specific obligation does not apply to businesses classified as micro-enterprises under Recommendation 2003/361/EC. A micro-enterprise is generally defined as an operation employing fewer than 10 people with an annual turnover or balance sheet total of up to €2 million. By 2030, businesses must also aim to offer 10% of their products in reusable formats under Article 33(5). Furthermore, the ban on single-use plastic packaging for food and drinks filled and consumed on-site at premises with seating areas will take effect on 1 January 2030. To ensure market readiness, businesses must confirm within 2026 whether they qualify as a micro-enterprise to determine applicable exemptions, whilst simultaneously auditing their existing takeaway packaging stock and supplier networks. 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