Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

About Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

With EFF´s combined expertise in e-commerce, VAT and EPR compliance, you gain a single reliable partner to handle environmental and fiscal obligations together, keeping your business compliant and competitive in the EU & UK market

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has evolved from a sustainability measure into a regulatory requirement for any business placing goods on the market, especially in e-commerce. Authorities across Europe now hold sellers, importers, and online platforms accountable for the collection, recycling, and reporting of packaging electronic, batteries and other regulated products.

For e-commerce sellers, EPR is closely tied to market access due to the fact that proof of registration and compliance is needed before selling the products. EFF helps you manage EPR alongside VAT compliance, ensuring your business remains compliant.

EPR for E-commerce and Cross-border Sellers

EPR obligations apply when regulated products or packaging are introduced into a market for the first time, whether you manufacture locally, sell cross border, or use online marketplaces. This is true whether you sell B2B to resellers and distributors or directly to clients. In most cases the manufacturer or brand owner is considered the producer and must register under local EPR schemes.

Why it Matters for Online Sellers

Countries such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Poland, Sweden and the UK, among others, now require valid EPR registration before products can be listed online. Marketplaces increasingly verify compliance and may suspend non-compliant sellers. In the EU more broadly, the new EU Regulation 2025/40 better known as Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) also introduces stricter registration, design, and reporting standards for cross border e-commerce. As a Regulation, this policy will need to be transposed and enforced across the EU.

Non-EU sellers must appoint authorized representatives as well as those EU sellers who aim to sell in countries where they are not established, must appoint Authorized Representatives, even if you are based in another EU country.

For example, a Polish company selling to German consumers online must appoint a German Authorized Representative to comply with the local packaging law (VerpackG).

Navigating EPR and VAT compliance across multiple EU and UK markets can be complex, but with EFF as your trusted partner, you can stay compliant, avoid costly penalties and focus on growing your business. Our team of experts simplifies regulatory requirements sou you can sell with confidence.