German deposit (Pfand) on single-use drinks containers: what online sellers must do

Q: I sell drinks into Germany. Do single-use bottles and cans need the deposit (Pfand)?

Yes, for single-use drinks containers. § 46(1) VerpackDG requires whoever first places them on the German market to charge a deposit of at least €0.25 including VAT per container, mark them visibly as deposit-bearing before they are made available, and join the single nationwide deposit system. § 46(2): in distance selling, the seller must provide suitable return points within reasonable distance of the customer. These containers are declared separately in LUCID (§ 6(2)).

I sell drinks into Germany. Do single-use bottles and cans need the deposit (Pfand)?

Yes. § 46 VerpackDG: at least €0.25 per container, the deposit label, and a nationwide deposit system. Distance sellers must offer take-back too.

Since 12 August 2026, § 5 VerpackDG, implementing Article 45(3) of Regulation (EU) 2025/40, requires a producer with no establishment in Germany to appoint an authorised representative before it first makes packaging available in Germany. Read § 5

By Razvan Toma · Founder · Last checked 7 November 2026 · Sources linked below

Quick answer

Yes, for single-use drinks containers. § 46(1) VerpackDG: whoever first places them on the German market charges a deposit of at least €0.25 including VAT per container, marks them as deposit-bearing, permanently and visibly, before they are made available, and joins the single nationwide deposit system. § 46(2): a distance seller must make sure customers can return them within a reasonable distance. Deposit containers are declared separately in LUCID (§ 6(2) no. 6). § 13(2) also ties deposit drinks packaging to a ZSVR approval under § 19, unless an approved producer-responsibility organisation carries your responsibility; see § 19 approval.

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I sell drinks into Germany. Do single-use bottles and cans need the deposit (Pfand)?

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