What is Extended Producer Responsibility

Extended Producer Responsibility Registration Service

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a mandatory environmental protection regulation in the European Union, requiring producers and sellers to pay corresponding "environmental recycling fees" for the waste generated by their products at the end of their service life.

EPR Service Overview

EPR stands for Extended Producer Responsibility. It is a mandatory environmental regulation in the European Union that requires producers/importers to be responsible for the entire life cycle of their products, covering waste recycling, disposal, and environmental declaration.

EPR requires producers and sellers to pay corresponding "environmental recycling fees" for the waste generated by their products at the end of their service life. This policy aims to reduce the environmental impact of waste, promote resource recycling, and drive eco-design, which is a key measure in achieving the EU's green and circular economy goals.

The new EU regulations in 2025 strengthen the supervision of categories such as electronic equipment, packaging, and textiles. Non-compliant enterprises will face fines of up to 100,000 euros and market bans.

Common Classifications of EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility)

1.Packaging Waste (Packaging): As long as the product has packaging (including the product's own packaging and transportation packaging), registration and declaration must be processed for the packaging materials.

2.Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE): Targets all equipment that requires electric currents or electromagnetic fields to work, ranging from small items like earphones and mobile phones to large appliances like refrigerators and washing machines.

3.Batteries: Includes all types of batteries, such as alkaline batteries, button cells, and lithium batteries in mobile phones and laptops.

4.Other Categories: Targets textile categories for clothing, footwear, home textiles, etc., various types of household and office furniture, paper and paper products for books and magazines, tires, and more.

Who Needs to Register for EPR

1.Manufacturers
Produce goods that need to comply with EPR requirements in the corresponding countries.

2.Importers
Import EPR-category products from other countries into the corresponding national market.

3.Distributors / Retailers
Sell EPR-category goods through online or offline channels.

Required Documents for EPR Registration

1.Company business license.

2.Information of the legal representative, copy of passport/ID card.

3.Brand/trademark registration certificate (must be consistent with the brand filed in the store).

4.Tax identification number, VAT number (if available).

5.Basic store information, front-end store link, and sales product information.

Process for EPR Registration

Step 1: Clarify the regions and countries where the products are sold.

Step 2: Determine the EPR category to which the sold products belong.

Step 3: Confirm exactly which EPR services need to be registered.

Step 4: Place an order to purchase the service and submit registration documents.

Step 5: Upload and bind to the store after the EPR certificate is issued.

Step 6: Print the EPR logo on the product/outer packaging.

Step 7: Conduct routine annual declarations and pay recycling fees.

Frequently Asked Questions about EPR

Q: I already have a German Packaging Act registration number (LUCID number). Can I use it in other EU countries (such as France)?

A: No. EPR registration is country/region-based, and each country has its own independent regulations, enforcement agencies, and registration systems. The German Packaging Act registration only applies to the German market. If you sell goods to France, you must register with the corresponding French agencies separately for categories like packaging and WEEE, and obtain a unique French EPR registration number.

Q: Are the EPR registration number and the weee registration number the same thing?

A: Not exactly. WEEE is one of the EPR categories. EPR is an umbrella policy that includes multiple product categories: such as the Packaging Act, WEEE, Battery Act, etc. You may need to register for multiple categories for a single product at the same time. For example, to sell a Bluetooth speaker (which belongs to the WEEE category) with its packaging box (which belongs to the packaging category), you need to have both a WEEE registration number and a packaging registration number at the same time.

Q: How is the EPR recycling fee (environmental fee) calculated?

A: The calculation of recycling fees is usually based on the weight or quantity of products you sell in that country's market. The rates are set by the PRO (Producer Responsibility Organization) designated by each country and will vary depending on the material type. For example: The Packaging Act charges based on the weight and type of packaging materials (paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, etc.). WEEE/Batteries are charged based on the weight and category of the equipment or batteries. You need to regularly (e.g., annually) declare sales data to the PRO and pay the fees.

Q: I am a small seller with very low sales volume. Do I still need to register for EPR?

A: Yes. Legally speaking, as long as you sell products subject to the EPR policy to that country/region, regardless of the sales volume, you have the obligation to register. It is recommended that you complete the EPR registration and product compliance obligations before putting the products on the market.