Deposits labels on the way for mineral water, lemonade and iced tea sold in Denmark

New products on which deposits are payable must be registered with Dansk Retursystem A/S at least 4 weeks before they are imported or marketed in Denmark

From 1 December 2008, a deposit is payable on all mineral water (with or without flavouring), ready-to-drink lemonade, as well as iced tea and similar products sold on the Danish market. This means that all mineral water (with or without flavouring), ready-to-drink lemonade, iced tea, and other similar products sold on the Danish market must be marked with the deposit label by 1 December 2008.

Who needs to register with the Danish deposit and return system?

Producers and importers are required by law to register with the Danish deposit and return system if they sell products on which deposits are payable on the Danish market. Products must be registered with Dansk Retursystem A/S at least 4 weeks before they are imported or marketed in Denmark.

How does registration work?

Producers and importers can now register with Dansk Retursystem A/S. Once registered, they can also register the individual items of packaging. Read more about the registration process here

Helping the environment

The introduction of deposits on mineral water, lemonade, iced tea and similar products sold in one-way packaging is both a logical extension of the Danish deposit and return system, and is a really good idea when it comes to conserving natural resources. Every year, Danes drink more than 200 million bottles of mineral water and iced tea. Today, all the used packaging is thrown away as rubbish. When deposits are paid, the packaging will be collected and recycled into new products instead – to the benefit of the environment.

When will deposits apply to mineral water, lemonade and iced tea?

From 1 September 2008, the tax on packaging for mineral water (with or without flavouring), ready-to-drink lemonade, and iced tea is being changed from a weight-based tax to a lower volume-based tax. On the same date, deposits will be introduced for the above products in glass, plastic, aluminium and steel packaging per the timetable below:

1 September and 22 September 2008: Packaging must be registered with Dansk Retursystem A/S by 1 September 2008 at the latest; packaging which is already sold on the Danish market should be registered by 22 September 2008 at the latest.

1 October 2008: Producers and importers may only sell mineral water (with or without flavouring), ready-to-drink lemonade, and iced tea on the Danish market if the products are registered with the Danish deposit and return system, and are thereby deposit payable. The packaging must be marked with the Danish deposit label.The rest of the market such as shops, restaurants, kiosks and other outlets selling the products in question may sell the products without the Danish deposit label until 30 November 2008.

On 1 December 2008 it will be illegal to sell mineral water (with or without flavouring), ready-to-drink lemonade, and iced tea to consumers in packaging not bearing the deposit label. Producers and importers can now register their products with Dansk Retursystem A/S.

Need further information?

The website is where you can read more about the registration and deposit labelling of products, as well as which rules also apply to the sale of products on which deposits are payable. If you have any questions or need further information you are always welcome to contact our Product Registration Centre on +45 43 32 32 32.

The new Statutory Order (only in Danish) of 24 April 2008 covering deposit labels can be downloaded here