Quick answer: Yes. From 12 August 2026, Amazon will verify that you hold a valid packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) registration in every EU country where your products are sold or stored — not just Germany and France. Sellers who cannot provide a valid EPR number for each country risk having their listings deactivated in that country with no grace period. If you sell across the EU with FBA, you should start registering now, because some countries take up to three months to process.
What is packaging EPR (and what is PPWR)?
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is an EU principle that makes the business placing a product on the market financially responsible for the waste it creates — including the box, filler, tape, and any packaging around your product. To comply, you register with each country’s packaging scheme, report the weight and type of packaging you put into that market, and pay a recycling fee.
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is the EU-wide law that tightens these rules and, crucially, requires online marketplaces like Amazon to verify that their sellers are properly registered. That marketplace-verification duty is what turns EPR from “good practice” into a hard requirement Amazon must actively police.
What changes on 12 August 2026?
Today, Amazon already asks for packaging EPR numbers in Germany (via the LUCID register) and France (via Citeo). From 12 August 2026, that expands: Amazon will check for a valid packaging EPR registration in every EU country where your goods are sold or held in a fulfilment centre. This is a hard enforcement date, not a gradual rollout.
If you use Pan-EU FBA or the European Fulfilment Network (EFN), Amazon moves your inventory across borders on your behalf — which means you can trigger an EPR obligation in a country you never actively chose to sell in.
Which EU countries require packaging EPR?
Each country runs its own scheme with its own registration body, fees, and reporting rules. Here are the main markets Amazon sellers encounter:
| Country | Registration body / scheme | Typical processing time |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | LUCID (Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister) | ~2–4 weeks |
| France | Citeo or Léko (+ Unique Identifier) | up to ~3 months |
| Italy | CONAI | several weeks |
| Spain | Ecoembes (Green Dot) | several weeks |
| Austria | Licensed scheme (e.g. ARA) | ~2–4 weeks |
| Poland | National packaging register | up to ~3 months |
| Netherlands, Belgium & others | National schemes | varies |
Processing times are indicative and change over time — register as early as possible to be safe.
What happens if you’re not registered by the deadline?
- Listing deactivation in every country where you lack a valid EPR number — often with no warning.
- Account-level warnings that can escalate to suspension if left unresolved.
- Lost sales and Buy Box during any period your listings are down in a market.
- Ongoing liability — you remain responsible for registering, back-reporting your packaging volumes, and paying any outstanding fees, so ignoring it only makes the problem bigger.
EPR vs VAT vs GPSR: what’s the difference?
These three EU obligations are frequently confused, but they are completely separate:
- Packaging EPR — pays for recycling your packaging; registered per country with the packaging scheme.
- VAT — a tax on your sales; registered with tax authorities and unrelated to packaging.
- GPSR (General Product Safety Regulation) — product-safety rules requiring an EU-based Responsible Person and safety information; separate from packaging waste.
You may well need all three. Holding a VAT number does not satisfy your EPR obligation, and vice versa.
FBA and Pan-EU: why you may owe EPR in countries you didn’t choose
With Pan-EU FBA and EFN, Amazon decides where to store your inventory to speed up delivery. If your products sit in a warehouse in Poland or ship from Italy, you can owe packaging EPR there — even if you think of yourself as “only” a German or UK-based seller. Before the deadline, check exactly which countries hold or move your stock.
How to get compliant before 12 August 2026
- List the countries you sell or store in. Check Seller Central for your Pan-EU/EFN inventory locations.
- Register with each country’s packaging scheme (LUCID, Citeo, CONAI, Ecoembes, and so on) and obtain your EPR number for each — either directly or through an Amazon-recommended EPR service provider.
- Report your packaging data — the material types and weights you place on each market.
- Add every EPR number in Seller Central under your compliance/EPR settings so Amazon can verify them.
- Set reminders for annual reporting. EPR is an ongoing yearly declaration, not a one-time task.
Because France and Poland can take up to three months, waiting until the weeks before the deadline is cutting it fine. The earlier you begin, the safer your listings.
How much does packaging EPR cost?
Fees depend on the weight and type of packaging you place on each market and that country’s tariffs, so costs vary widely — from modest annual minimums for low-volume sellers to substantial fees for heavy or high-volume packaging. Whichever route you take, budget for both the one-time registration and the recurring annual reporting fees in each country.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need packaging EPR if I only sell in one EU country?
Yes — you need EPR in that country. And if you use Pan-EU FBA, Amazon may store and ship your goods from other countries too, creating obligations there as well.
Will Amazon register for EPR on my behalf?
No. You must register yourself and provide Amazon a valid EPR number for each country — there is no “pay on behalf” option that lets you skip registration. Amazon will not process your packaging EPR fees until you have supplied a valid registration number. If you’d rather not handle it in-house, Amazon lists recommended EPR service providers in its Service Provider Network who can complete the registration for you, or a compliance partner can manage the whole process end to end.
How long does EPR registration take?
Anywhere from about two weeks (Germany, Austria) to around three months (France, Poland). Start early.
Is packaging EPR the same as VAT or the plastic tax?
No. Packaging EPR is a waste-management obligation, separate from VAT and from national plastic taxes.
What is PPWR?
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation — the law standardising packaging rules across the EU and requiring marketplaces like Amazon to verify seller EPR registration.
What exactly happens on 12 August 2026?
Amazon begins verifying valid packaging EPR numbers for every EU country where your products are distributed, and can deactivate listings where a number is missing.
Don’t risk your EU listings — get compliant now
With the 12 August 2026 deadline approaching fast, the safest move is to audit every market you sell or store in and register before Amazon’s checks go live. If you’d rather not navigate LUCID, Citeo, CONAI, Ecoembes and the rest yourself, our team handles Amazon EU compliance end to end. See our Amazon EU product compliance service, explore how we’ve helped other EU sellers, or book a free consultation for a country-by-country action plan.
This article is for general guidance and reflects requirements as of 2026; rules, fees, and deadlines vary by country and change over time. Always confirm your current obligations in Amazon Seller Central and with each national packaging scheme.