The European Commission has decided to extend the derogation on plastic crates and plastic pallets in relation to the heavy metal concentration levels established in Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste. The Commission Decision has been published in the Official Journal on 25 March 2009 (C (2009)1959).

In a January message to the European plastics conversion industry, Alexandre Dangis, the Managing Director of the industry's Brussels based trade body, EuPC, outlined actions taken by EuPC in a series of high-level meetings with the European Commission and the European Investment Bank to secure support for the industry and to highlight the strategic importance of the plastics conversion sector in a balanced manufacturing economy.