【正文】 ch measures after appropriate verification。 Whereas the European Parliament and the Council should, on the basis of reports by the Commission, examine the practical experience gained in Member States in working towards the aforementioned targets and the findings of scientific research and evaluation techniques such as ecobalances。 Whereas targets set in Member States for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste should be confined within certain ranges so as to take account of the different situations in Member States and to avoid creating barriers to trade and distortion of petition。 Whereas from an environmental point of view recycling should be regarded as an important part of recovery with a particular view to reducing the consumption of energy and of primary raw materials and the final disposal of waste。 Whereas prevention of packaging waste shall be carried out through appropriate measures, including initiatives taken within the Member States in accordance with the objectives of this Directive。 whereas this requires the setting up in the Member States of systems guaranteeing the return of used packaging and/or packaging waste。 Whereas, in line with the Community strategy for waste management set out in Council resolution of 7 May 1990 on waste policy (5) and Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste (6), the management of packaging and packaging waste should include as a first priority, prevention of packaging waste and, as additional fundamental principles, reuse of packaging, recycling and other forms of recovering packaging waste and, hence, reduction of the final disposal of such waste。 therefore, Council Directive 85/339/EEC of 27 June 1985 on containers of liquids for human consumption (4) should be repealed。 Whereas this Directive should cover all types of packaging placed on the market and all packaging waste。 Whereas it is important, in relation of the objectives of this Directive, to respect the general principle that measures taken in one Member State to protect the environment should not adversely affect the ability of other Member States to achieve the objectives of the Directive。EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 94/62/EC of 20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 100a thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty (3), Whereas the differing national measures concerning the management of packaging and packaging waste should be harmonized in order, on the one hand, to prevent any impact thereof on the environment or to reduce such impact, thus providing a high level of environmental protection, and, on the other hand, to ensure the functioning of the internal market and to avoid obstacles to trade and distortion and restriction of petition within the Community。 Whereas the best means of preventing the creation of packaging waste is to reduce the overall volume of packaging。 Whereas the reduction of waste is essential for the sustainable growth specifically called for by the Treaty on European Union。 whereas。 Whereas packaging has a vital social and economic function and therefore measures provided for in this Directive should apply without prejudice to other relevant legislative requirements affecting quality and transport of packaging or packaged goods。 Whereas, until scientific and technological progress is made with regard to recovery processes, reuse and recycling should be considered preferable in terms of environmental impact。 whereas lifecycle assessments should be pleted as soon as possible to justify a clear hierarchy between reusable, recyclable and recoverable packaging。 Whereas Member States may encourage, in accordance with the Treaty, reuse systems of packaging which can be reused in an environmentally sound manner, in order to take advantage of the contribution of such systems to environmental protection。 Whereas energy recovery is one effective means of packaging waste recovery。 Whereas, in order to achieve results in the medium term and to give economic operators, consumers and public authorities the necessary perspective for the longer term, a mediumterm deadline should be set for attaining the aforementioned targets and a longterm deadline set for targets to be determined at a later stage with a view to substantially increasing those targets。 Whereas Member States which have, or will set, programmes going beyond such target ranges should be permitted to pursue those targets in the interest of a high level of environmental protection on condition shat such measures avoid disturbances on the internal market and do not prevent other Member States from plying with this Directive。 Whereas, on the other hand, certain Member States may be allowed to adopt lower targets because of the specific circumstances in those Member States, on condition that they achieve a minimum target for recovery within the standard deadline, and the standard targets by a later deadline。 whereas such systems should be open to the participation of all interested parties and be designed to avoid discrimination against imported products and barriers to trade or distortions of petition and to guarantee the maximum possible return of packaging and packaging waste, in accordance with the Treaty。 Whereas, in order to minimize the impact of packaging and packaging waste on the environment and to avoid barriers to trade and distortion of petition, it is also necessary to define the essential requirements governing the position and the reusable and recoverable (including recyclable) nature of packaging。 whereas