EU packaging rule sets €300‑€500 annual fee per country for sellers
From 12 August 2026 the EU packaging regulation charges sellers €300‑€500 per country per year for registration, but only in the states where they sell, prompting e‑commerce platforms to enforce new compliance checks.
The EU’s new packaging regulation imposes an annual registration fee of €300‑€500 per member state where sellers offer goods, effective 12 August 2026.
Scope of the registration
Businesses must obtain an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) registration in every EU country in which they intend to sell products. The rule does not automatically require registration in all 27 states; compliance is market‑specific.
Cost illustration
The Deutsche Industrie‑ und Handelskammer (DIHK) states the fee ranges from €300 to €500 per country per year.
| Number of member states registered | Annual cost (low end) | Annual cost (high end) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | €300 | €500 |
| 5 | €1,500 | €2,500 |
| 10 | €3,000 | €5,000 |
| 27 | €8,100 | €13,500 |
| Source: DIHK, cited in FAZ – Wirtschaft | ||
Platform response
eBay has warned sellers that listings lacking a valid EPR registration number will be hidden in the affected countries. The enforcement deadline coincides with the regulation’s start date, creating immediate compliance pressure for cross‑border merchants.
Small e‑commerce operators will need to assess the profitability of each market against the €300‑€500 per‑country cost before resuming cross‑border sales.
