EU Packaging Regulation · applicable since 12 Aug 2026
Amazon wants your EPR number. France wants an authorised representative. And you just want to sell.
Since 12 August, marketplaces check your packaging registration in every EU country, authorised representatives cost €300–500 per country and year, and old German scheme contracts end on 31 Dec 2026. EU Market Guide shows you in minutes what actually applies to your business – with official sources instead of panic.
The situation since 12 Aug 2026 – no sugar-coating
These are the four things sellers in forums and communities are actually worried about right now:
Amazon checks every EU country
Since 12 Aug 2026, marketplaces demand EPR registration numbers for every country you sell to or store stock in – missing numbers lead to deactivated listings.
What to do now →
A representative per country, no de-minimis
Direct shipping into a country without your own establishment means: authorised representative required – typically €300–500 per country and year, from the very first parcel.
What to do now →
Germany reversed its rules
The new VerpackDG makes the authorised representative mandatory for foreign direct sellers – and existing dual-system contracts are valid until 31 Dec 2026 at the latest.
What to do now →
Even suppliers contradict each other
Who licenses the shipping box – seller or box supplier? The industry openly gives contradictory answers. We answer with a source and a verification date.
What to do now →
What sellers are asking right now
Real questions from seller forums and communities – answered in plain language, with sources and verification dates.
Amazon is asking for my EPR registration number – what do I do now?
Since 12 Aug 2026, Amazon has been checking your packaging EPR registration in every EU country where you sell or store goods – missing numbers lead to listings being deactivated. You need to register in the respective destination country (or join a scheme there), obtain the number and store it in Seller Central under 'Compliance'. Beware: without proof, Amazon can pay the EPR fees on your behalf and bill you for them – usually more expensive than registering yourself.
Do I really need an authorised representative in every EU country?
If you sell at a distance directly to end customers in an EU country where your business has no establishment: under Art. 45 of the EU Packaging Regulation, in principle yes – since 12 Aug 2026, with no de-minimis threshold. Typical costs are €300–500 per country per year, regardless of shipping volume. There is no obligation for countries you do not ship to directly, and in some constellations another party (e.g. your local importer) already fulfils the producer obligations.
I am registered in LUCID and have a dual system contract – isn't that enough?
For Germany: almost – but since 12 Aug 2026 your registration may need an update (keywords: authorised representative, new legal basis VerpackDG), and existing system participation contracts remain valid until 31 Dec 2026 at the latest. For every other EU country: no. LUCID only works for Germany – France requires an IDU via SYDEREP, Austria requires Entpflichtung (discharge of obligations via an approved scheme) through a scheme there, and so on. 'I've got LUCID, that'll do' is this year's most expensive mistake.
My box supplier says I am responsible – who has to license the shipping carton?
In Germany the rule is: whoever fills the shipping packaging with goods and sends it to end customers counts as the producer of that packaging – so as a rule that is you as the seller, not your box supplier. Legally safe pre-licensed packaging exists above all for service packaging; for standard shipping cartons, do not rely on verbal assurances from your supplier. The industry is currently giving openly contradictory answers on this – get your supplier's role in writing.
My dual system contract runs out at the end of 2026 – do I have to sign a new one?
Under the German transitional rules, system participation contracts concluded before 12 Aug 2026 remain valid until 31 Dec 2026 at the latest. From 1 Jan 2027, contracts and volume reports must reflect the new allocation of responsibility – in many cases that means: conclude a new contract or have yours actively confirmed. Industry statements on this currently contradict each other; get written confirmation from your system on what applies to your contract.
I only ship a few parcels to other EU countries – is there a de-minimis threshold?
EU-wide: no – the Packaging Regulation has no de-minimis threshold; even a single delivery triggers the obligations in the destination country. Nationally, though, there is real relief: Austria has a flat-rate fee below 1,500 kg/year, in the Netherlands the 50,000 kg threshold for the Verpact contribution remains in place (SUP reporting still applies from the first kilo), Czechia even exempts the smallest volumes under 300 kg/year (plus a turnover cap) from registration entirely, and Denmark allows a simplified declaration below 8 t/year. Don't rely on blanket statements – the rules differ per country.
One guide instead of 27 government portals
You don't need to know that Germany calls it LUCID and France SYDEREP. For you, Europe always looks the same:
Check your business
Describe your business once – country of establishment, product range, channels. In a dialogue with the assistant or via the quick check.
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Pick the countries you sell to or want to sell to. Whether from DE, PL or NL – the same engine evaluates every combination.
Get your action plan
Per country: which obligation applies, why it affects you, what to do concretely – and who can handle it for you.
Country guides: packaging obligations 2026
For every country we bundle authority, register, obligations and providers – continuously verified, with dates.
Austria
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
Belgium
Draft2 documented obligations · As of 2026-09-01
Bulgaria
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
Croatia
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
Cyprus
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
Czechia
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
Denmark
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
Estonia
Draft2 documented obligations · As of 2026-09-01
Finland
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
France
Draft2 documented obligations · As of 2026-09-01
Germany
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
Greece
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
Hungary
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
Ireland
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
Italy
Draft2 documented obligations · As of 2026-09-01
Latvia
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
Lithuania
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
Luxembourg
Draft2 documented obligations · As of 2026-09-01
Malta
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
Netherlands
Draft2 documented obligations · As of 2026-09-01
Poland
Draft2 documented obligations · As of 2026-09-01
Portugal
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
Romania
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
Slovakia
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
Slovenia
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
Spain
Draft3 documented obligations · As of 2026-09-01
Sweden
Draft1 documented obligation · As of 2026-09-01
No AI guesses. Verified facts.
Our assistant is only the interface. Every regulatory statement comes from a structured data base: official source, validity date, last verification date, approval status. Where something isn't sourced, we tell you honestly – instead of guessing.
# Example: one rule in our data base
country: France
domain: Packaging EPR
source: official (ADEME)
applies_since: 12.08.2026 (PPWR)
last_verified: 01.09.2026
status: Draft → Review → Approved
Frequently asked questions
Amazon is asking for my EPR registration number – what do I do now?+
Since 12 Aug 2026, Amazon has been checking your packaging EPR registration in every EU country where you sell or store goods – missing numbers lead to listings being deactivated. You need to register in the respective destination country (or join a scheme there), obtain the number and store it in Seller Central under 'Compliance'. Beware: without proof, Amazon can pay the EPR fees on your behalf and bill you for them – usually more expensive than registering yourself.
Full answer with steps →Do I really need an authorised representative in every EU country?+
If you sell at a distance directly to end customers in an EU country where your business has no establishment: under Art. 45 of the EU Packaging Regulation, in principle yes – since 12 Aug 2026, with no de-minimis threshold. Typical costs are €300–500 per country per year, regardless of shipping volume. There is no obligation for countries you do not ship to directly, and in some constellations another party (e.g. your local importer) already fulfils the producer obligations.
Full answer with steps →I am registered in LUCID and have a dual system contract – isn't that enough?+
For Germany: almost – but since 12 Aug 2026 your registration may need an update (keywords: authorised representative, new legal basis VerpackDG), and existing system participation contracts remain valid until 31 Dec 2026 at the latest. For every other EU country: no. LUCID only works for Germany – France requires an IDU via SYDEREP, Austria requires Entpflichtung (discharge of obligations via an approved scheme) through a scheme there, and so on. 'I've got LUCID, that'll do' is this year's most expensive mistake.
Full answer with steps →My box supplier says I am responsible – who has to license the shipping carton?+
In Germany the rule is: whoever fills the shipping packaging with goods and sends it to end customers counts as the producer of that packaging – so as a rule that is you as the seller, not your box supplier. Legally safe pre-licensed packaging exists above all for service packaging; for standard shipping cartons, do not rely on verbal assurances from your supplier. The industry is currently giving openly contradictory answers on this – get your supplier's role in writing.
Full answer with steps →Find out in minutes what applies in your target countries.
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