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Packaging obligations in Czechia (2026)

Draft

Verified on: 2026-09-01

EU framework: PPWR (EU) 2025/40, applicable since 12 Aug 2026

National: Zákon č. 477/2001 Sb. (Packaging Act) with its de-minimis exemption (§ 15a), the Seznam osob register (list of persons) at the Ministry of the Environment (§ 14) and the institution of the pověřený zástupce (authorised representative, § 13a); according to EKO-KOM, the amendment adapting the act to the PPWR (adaptační novela) was still pending in July 2026

Czechia operates ONE collective system for household and commercial packaging: EKO-KOM is the only authorised packaging company (autorizovaná obalová společnost). Anyone concluding a joint fulfilment contract (sdružené plnění) covering ALL of their packaging does not have to enter themselves in the Seznam osob register. De-minimis exemption under § 15a: anyone placing less than 300 kg of packaging per calendar year on the market AND with an annual turnover of at most 25 million CZK is exempt from the obligations of §§ 10–15 (evidence on request). The PPWR register obligation (Art. 44), by contrast, has no de-minimis threshold; the EU-wide producer register does not yet exist in Czechia (per EKO-KOM, the implementing act under Art. 44(14) had not yet been adopted as of February 2026) – until then, the Seznam osob and the EKO-KOM reporting channels continue to apply.

Packaging EPR: EKO-KOM participation or Seznam osob registration (Czechia)

Anyone placing packaging on the Czech market must ensure take-back and recovery – in practice almost always via a joint fulfilment contract with EKO-KOM, alternatively through self-fulfilment with an entry in the Seznam osob register of the Ministry of the Environment. Since 12 Aug 2026 the PPWR producer concept applies: according to EKO-KOM, a foreign company delivering to end users in Czechia is itself the producer – this covers foreign online sellers selling directly as much as suppliers of transport and service packaging to Czech business customers.

Authorised representative: 
National law (§ 13a Packaging Act): foreign parties placing packaging on the market MAY appoint a pověřený zástupce (authorised representative – an entrepreneur established in Czechia, written contract); nationally it is only MANDATORY for distance sellers selling single-use plastic packaging or packaging materials under Annex 4 parts C/D directly to Czech end customers (SUP implementation). In addition, since 12 Aug 2026 Art. 45 PPWR has required an authorised representative for EVERY distance seller without an establishment that makes packaging available directly to end users in Czechia; the Czech adapting amendment was still pending in summer 2026 – clarify the implementation details with EKO-KOM or legal counsel.
Cross-border: 
EKO-KOM makes it clear: 'A foreign company delivering to end users in the Czech Republic is a producer.' Foreign online sellers can no longer count on their Czech business customer bearing the obligations as importer – Czech commercial end users are expected to actively inform their foreign suppliers (EKO-KOM provides template letters for this) and demand registration/participation evidence. Check the § 15a de-minimis exemption (below 300 kg/year AND max. 25 million CZK turnover) and keep evidence on file; marketplaces increasingly demand EPR evidence for Czechia.
Costs: 
EKO-KOM fees according to the public tariff per material and packaging type (household/industrial packaging separately). For self-fulfilment: one-off Seznam osob registration of 800 CZK plus an 800 CZK records fee per calendar year (due by 15 Feb, collected via the customs administration/SFŽP).
Deadlines: 
EKO-KOM membership or Seznam osob entry before placing goods on the market, at the latest within 60 days of the obligation arising; volume reports to EKO-KOM quarterly; records fee annually by 15 Feb. The PPWR producer concept and the Art. 45 authorised-representative requirement have applied since 12 Aug 2026; watch the Czech adapting amendment.

Typical steps

  1. Check whether the de-minimis exemption applies: less than 300 kg of packaging per calendar year in Czechia AND annual turnover of at most 25 million CZK (both together; document the evidence).
  2. Above the de-minimis threshold: conclude a joint fulfilment contract (smlouva o sdruženém plnění) with EKO-KOM – contact info@ekokom.cz; the full contract replaces your own Seznam osob entry.
  3. Only if self-fulfilling instead of using EKO-KOM: apply for entry in the Seznam osob within 60 days of the obligation arising (via VISOH2/data box; fee 800 CZK) and pay the annual records fee of 800 CZK by 15 Feb.
  4. Submit quarterly volume reports (výkazy) to EKO-KOM and pay fees according to the tariff; new EKO-KOM methodologies (producer identification, reporting, littering) have applied since 12 Aug 2026.
  5. Without an establishment in Czechia: clarify the authorised-representative question (§ 13a nationally, Art. 45 PPWR for distance selling) and conclude a written mandate.
  6. Provide Czech B2B customers with registration/participation evidence and store your EPR number with the marketplaces you use.

Providers for this obligation

EKO-KOM, a.s.

Sources: EKO-KOM – PPWR-Informationsseite für Klienten (Produzentenbegriff, Hinweispflicht gewerblicher Endnutzer an ausländische Lieferanten, neue Methodiken ab 12.08.2026) (accessed 2026-09-01) · EKO-KOM – Präsentation PPWR (Stand 08.07.2026; ,Zahraniční firma, která dodává konečnému uživateli v ČR, je producent', Registerstatus Art. 44, ausstehende Anpassungsnovelle) (accessed 2026-09-01) · Zákon č. 477/2001 Sb. (Volltext) – § 13 Erfüllungswege, § 13a pověřený zástupce, § 14 Seznam osob, § 15a Bagatellausnahme (accessed 2026-09-01) · SFŽP ČR – Gebühren nach dem Verpackungsgesetz (Registrierung 800 CZK, Evidenzgebühr 800 CZK bis 15.02., Bagatellausnahme) (accessed 2026-09-01) · portal.gov.cz – Antrag auf Eintrag in das Seznam osob (Verfahren, 60-Tage-Frist, VISOH2/Datenbox) (accessed 2026-09-01) · EnviWeb – § 14 Seznam osob: Befreiung vom Eintrag bei EKO-KOM-Vollvertrag (sdružené plnění) (accessed 2026-09-01) · Třetí ruka – EKO-KOM als (einzige) autorisierte Verpackungsgesellschaft (01/2026) (accessed 2026-09-01)

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Legal information, not legal advice. The linked official sources prevail; data marked “draft” has not been finally verified.