EU packaging rules (PPWR) apply since 12 August 2026 · day 91Check if it applies to you →
PPWR · since 12 Aug 2026 · Check if it applies to you →
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Selling to Germany from France

What German packaging EPR asks of a company based in France: the authorised representative under § 5 VerpackDG, LUCID, the dual-system licence, marketplaces, and what it costs.

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

Checked: 6 November 2026 — the date every statement on this page was checked against the sources below.

Quick answer

Yes. Being in the EU does not exempt a company based in France: with no establishment in Germany, it must appoint a German authorised representative before it sells packaged goods to end users in Germany. The rule is § 5(2) VerpackDG, which applies Article 45(3) PPWR and has applied since 12 August 2026. There is no size threshold. With us it costs €149 a year, with no setup fee.

Quick facts

Based inFrance
Your home registrationYour French eco-organisme memberships and IDUs cover France only.
Typical sales channelsOwn webshop shipping to Germany, Amazon.de and Pan-European FBA, Cdiscount and ManoMano sellers expanding, German distributors
German registerLUCID: you register yourself, online and free, and name us
Our fee€149 a year for packaging, €0 setup, no deposit; electricals and batteries €500 a year each
ConfirmationThe same day, once you have named us in LUCID and signed the mandate

VerpackDG § 5 Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPW

Who is the producer in your setup?

SetupProducer in Germany
Your own webshop shipping to German customersYou, from the first parcel
Amazon.de, eBay.de, OTTO, Kaufland and other marketplacesYou, for every unit sold to a German end user. One LUCID number covers every platform
Stock at Amazon FBA or a German 3PLYou. The warehouse does not make you established in Germany: see warehouses and establishment
A German retailer or distributor buys and resellsNormally the retailer, for those goods: see selling to a German retailer
DropshippingSee who is the producer in dropshipping

ZSVR ZSVR

What sellers in France ask

Does our registration in France cover Germany?

No. Your French eco-organisme memberships and IDUs cover France only. Germany keeps its own register, LUCID, where every producer registers itself, and its own dual systems.

We have IDUs and pay Citeo in France. Do we register again in Germany?

Yes. French IDUs cover France only. In Germany you register in LUCID yourself, and your representative licenses your packaging with a German dual system.

Does a German representative also cover other EU countries?

No. The duty runs per country: each member state where you sell directly to end users has its own register and its own representative. See other EU countries.

Do we also need something for electricals or batteries?

Yes, if you sell them: those are separate registrations at stiftung ear, made by your representative. See electricals and batteries.

VerpackDG § 5 ZSVR help

How to start

  1. Order online and sign the mandate. See pricing.
  2. Register in LUCID and name us. See LUCID registration.
  3. Send us your packaging by material: an estimate is enough to start. See the documents you need.
  4. Enter your LUCID number in every marketplace account. See marketplaces.
Razvan Toma
About the authorRazvan Toma

Razvan Toma is the founder of EPR Germany Rep and of EPR France Rep, the French sister service. He has worked in waste management and recycling since 2009, running waste-separation programmes inside large B2B organisations in France for clients including Chanel, Microsoft, Decathlon, Pirelli, IKEA, Vinci, Capgemini and E.Leclerc. He reads the statutes and the regulator's own guidance directly, and publishes what they say — including when it means telling a visitor they do not need to buy anything.

Razvan on LinkedIn ↗

Frequently asked questions

Do we need a German representative if we are based in France?
Yes, if you sell packaged goods to end users in Germany and have no establishment there. There is no size threshold.
Can our representative register us in LUCID?
No. LUCID registration is a personal duty of the producer. You register, then name your representative.

Selling in Germany?

Your German authorised representative from €149 a year: help with your LUCID registration, dual-system contract and annual report included. No setup fee.