Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
EPR is a piece of environmental legislation that assigns responsibility for the entire life cycle of a product to the producer. New requirements came into effect in France and Germany on 1st January 2022, and more countries as well as new requirements have been introduced since then.
What is changing with EPR?
Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR, is an environmental policy that was introduced in 1988 in Sweden. EPR requires a producer to take responsibility for the entire lifecycle for the products that they put into the market, including their disposal.
The changes to EPR, which started being implemented on 1st January 2022, shifts the cost of collecting household waste from the taxpayer to the producer.
What will change for marketplace sellers?
From 1st January 2022, if you sell your products in the affected countries, operators of Online Marketplaces (OMP) are responsible for ensuring that you fully comply with EPR in these countries.
Your OMP will therefore collect and validate your EPR registration number(s). The category implementation dates and the relevant affected countries can be found below:
Countries affected:
Germany
There are several categories that were introduced for EPR from 1st January 2022. These are:
Packaging | 01/01/2022 |
WEEE | 01/01/2022 |
Batteries | 01/01/2022 |
From 2023 onwards, the following categories will be implemented:
Upcoming Category | Implementation date | |
| Single Use Plastics | 01/01/2024 |
France
There are several categories that were introduced for EPR from 1st January 2022. These are:
- Packaging
- Electrical & Electronic Equipment (EEE)
- Batteries
- Furniture
- Tyres
- Paper
- Textiles
From 2023 onwards, the following categories will be implemented:
Upcoming Category | Implementation date | |
Toys | 01/10/2023 | |
Construction Products | 01/01/2023 | |
Sports and Leisure | 01/01/2023 | |
DIY and gardening articles | 01/01/2023 | |
Oils | 01/01/2023 | |
Tobacco | 01/01/2023 | |
Catering Packaging | Undisclosed | |
Chewing gum | 2024 | |
Sanitary Textiles | 2024 | |
Fishing equipment | 2025 |
Austria
Packaging | 01/01/2023 |
Electronics | 01/01/2023 |
Batteries | 01/01/2023 |
Spain
Packaging | 01/04/2023 |
Batteries | 01/04/2023 |
EEE | 01/04/2023 |
Furniture | 01/04/2023 |
Textiles | 01/04/2023 |
Sweden
Upcoming Category | Implementation date | ||
Primary categories | Packaging | Phased in start from 01/01/2023 | |
WEEE | Phased in start from 01/01/2023 | ||
Batteries | Tentative 01/01/2023 | ||
Secondary categories | Balloons | 01/01/2024 | |
Tyres | Tentative 01/01/2023 | ||
Fishing Gear | 01/01/2023 for individual producers | ||
Tobacco filters | TBC | ||
Wet wipes | 01/01/2023 |
UK
Packaging (small) | 01/01/2023 |
Packaging (large) | 01/04/2024 |
Electronic goods | TBC (updating old legislation) |
Batteries | TBC (updating old legislation) |
Textiles | 01/01/2025 |
Poland
Packaging | 01/01/2023 |
Turkey
Packaging | 01/09/2023 |
Read our FAQs:
If you would like to access the AVASK EPR FAQ e-Book, please complete the form below:
Contact us
If your require help or support with regards to your Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR),
please contact a member of the AVASK team today.
