Amazon Germany EPR Compliance for Single-Use Plastics

Effective January 1, 2025, all sellers on Amazon Germany (Amazon.de) must comply with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements for single-use plastic products.  

Sellers whose products include single-use plastic items must complete the necessary registration process and provide Amazon with a valid registration number before this deadline. Failure to comply may result in the removal of these products from the platform.  

What is the Single-Use Plastic Regulation?  

Germany's Single-Use Plastic Regulation (EWKFondsG) aims to reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastic products and requires producers to bear the costs of cleaning up waste generated by these items.  

This law mandates that producers take responsibility for the collection and recycling of single-use plastic products to mitigate the negative effects of plastic waste on the environment.  

Amazon Germany supports this regulation by implementing new rules for single-use plastic products, ensuring compliance from all sellers on the platform.  

What Products are Subject to Regulation?  

Characteristics:  

- Material Composition: Entirely or partially made of plastic.  

- Design and Usage: Products are designed for single-use purposes, without considering reuse during their lifecycle.  

For example, these are products that cannot be returned to manufacturers or distributors for refilling or reuse consistent with their original purpose. Essentially, single-use plastic products are used once and then discarded, which places additional environmental responsibilities on their producers or sellers, including:  

- Costs for waste management support.  

- Environmental fees.  

Who Needs to Register Under the Single-Use Plastic Regulation?  

Any individual or legal entity that qualifies as a “producer” must register:  

- For German-based companies: If the company manufactures, fills, sells, or imports single-use plastic products into Germany for the first time and offers them for sale.  

- For non-German companies: If selling single-use plastic products directly to private households or other users in Germany via remote communication (e.g., online sales).  

Note:  

Sellers who negligently or intentionally sell non-compliant products will also be held responsible for fulfilling producer obligations.  

Steps for Compliance  

1. Register on DIVID (Single-Use Plastic Fund Platform)  

Before offering single-use plastic products as a producer, manufacturer, seller, or importer, register on the DIVID platform. Provide the product type and brand name during registration to receive a registration number.  

Note:  

Non-German producers must follow the appropriate registration pathway and appoint an authorized representative.  

2. Submit the Registration Number to Amazon  

After receiving the registration number from DIVID, sellers must provide the registration number for each product and brand combination to Amazon. This can be done via:  

Account Health > Policy Compliance > Regulatory Compliance Tab.  

3. Report Single-Use Plastic Quantities and Pay Fees  

Starting in 2025, sellers must electronically report the type and quantity of single-use plastic products sold or introduced to the German market during the previous year to the German Environment Agency by May 15th of each year via the DIVID platform.  

Frequently Asked Questions  

What is the format of the registration number?  

The registration number format is: `Role Code-XXXXXX-Country/Region Code`. Ensure the number meets the specified format before submitting it to Amazon.  

How can producers without a German-based company access DIVID?  

Starting August 1, 2024, non-German producers can self-register on the DIVID platform but must follow the appropriate pathway and appoint an authorized representative.  

Is registration required if I only use drop shipping or resell single-use plastic products?  

If your company is based in Germany and only resells products made by other producers, you must obtain the registration number from upstream suppliers and submit it through the German Single-Use Plastic Compliance Portal.  

What happens if I cannot prove compliance to Amazon?  

Amazon will suspend the sale of non-compliant products starting January 1, 2025, as required by law.  

What is the difference between Germany's Packaging Law and the Single-Use Plastic Regulation?  

The Single-Use Plastic Regulation targets products designed for short-term use that are non-recyclable and non-reusable, such as takeaway food containers and beverage cups. Most affected products are related to single-use packaging in contact with food.  

Products using plastic packaging but designed for reuse fall under Germany’s Packaging Law instead of the Single-Use Plastic Regulation.  

Final Advice  

Amazon enforces strict compliance policies, and regulatory adherence is an inevitable trend. Sellers dealing with single-use plastic products are advised to contact JJR Laboratory in China to complete registration before the regulation takes effect to avoid product delistings.