How to Prove EPR Single-Use Plastics Compliance as an Amazon Seller
Amazon Germany's New Compliance Requirements for Single-Use Plastics Explained
If you are an Amazon seller offering products that contain single-use plastics on Amazon Germany (Amazon.de), there is a new update that you must be aware of to ensure the uninterrupted sale of your products. Amazon UK has announced on its Seller Central platform regarding the compliance procedures for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) related to single-use plastics. This blog will help you navigate the changes, keep your listings compliant, and avoid deactivation starting January 1, 2025.
What is the New EPR Compliance Requirement?
Amazon will soon require sellers to prove their compliance with the German Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for single-use plastics regulation. From January 1, 2025, any non-compliant listings will be deactivated.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what this means for you:
EPR for Single-Use Plastics: This regulation requires producers and sellers to take responsibility for the impact of plastic materials. If your product uses plastic that is meant for single use, you need to prove compliance through proper registration and reporting.
Who Needs to Comply: If you sell products with single-use plastic components on Amazon.de, regardless of your establishment location, compliance is required to continue selling on the platform.
Also Read: Amazon Introduces New Recyclable Packaging in Europe
Steps to Prove Your EPR Compliance
To ensure that your listings remain compliant with Amazon Germany's requirements, follow these steps:
1. Register Your Brands with the German Environment Agency:
Register your brands in each single-use plastics category using the German Environment Agency’s Single-Use Plastics Fund platform (DIVID).
2. Submit Registration Numbers to Amazon:
i) Submit your registration numbers for each brand and product type combination via the Compliance Portal on your Amazon Seller Central account.
ii) You can do this by navigating to Account Health > Policy Compliance > Regulatory Compliance.
iii) Amazon will review your submissions and provide updates on their status within five working days.
3. Report and Pay the Eco-Contribution:
i) Beginning in 2025, report the types and quantities of single-use plastic products you sell in Germany to the DIVID platform annually.
ii) Based on this report, you must pay a levy known as the eco-contribution fee.
What if You Are Not a Producer?
If you are a seller established in Germany but only resell products from other producers, you still need to comply with the new requirements:
- Obtain Registration Numbers: Get the registration numbers from your upstream suppliers.
- Complete Steps 2 and 3: Submit these registration numbers and report sales as outlined above.
For sellers who are not established in Germany but sell in the region, there are additional steps:
Register via DIVID and Appoint an Authorized Representative: Sellers outside Germany must appoint an authorized representative to fulfil their EPR obligations.
How to Check if You Are Considered a Producer
The German EPR law has specific criteria for determining if a seller qualifies as a producer. You can use the Self-Check on Producer Status tool available on the DIVID platform to see if this applies to your business.
Key Highlights of the Compliance Process
- Amazon will begin deactivating non-compliant listings from January 1, 2025.
- Compliance involves registering your brand with the German Environment Agency and providing relevant registration numbers through Amazon's Compliance Portal.
- Reporting and eco-contribution payments need to be made yearly to stay compliant.
- Appointing an authorized representative is mandatory for sellers not established in Germany.
- Registration is done on the German Environment Agency's Single-Use Plastics Fund platform (DIVID).
Additional Resources for Amazon Sellers
Amazon has provided resources to make this process easier for sellers:
Authorized Representative: To find an authorized representative, you can go through Amazon’s Service Provider Network, which includes trusted third-party providers.
Third-Party Compliance Service: Amazon also suggests contacting compliance service providers if you need help meeting the requirements.
Ensuring compliance with Germany's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for single-use plastics is crucial if you want to continue selling on Amazon.de without disruptions. Start preparing by registering with the German Environment Agency and submitting the necessary information to Amazon through Seller Central. This proactive approach will help protect your business from listing deactivations and keep your operations running smoothly.
Also Read: Amazon Announces Reduced Shipping Rates for US-to-UK FBA Shipments
Follow us on Facebook, X and LinkedIn to get the latest news and updates related to online selling.
By ChannelMAX Staff Writer
Oct-2024#23
If you are an Amazon seller offering products that contain single-use plastics on Amazon Germany (Amazon.de), there is a new update that you must be aware of to ensure the uninterrupted sale of your products. Amazon UK has announced on its Seller Central platform regarding the compliance procedures for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) related to single-use plastics. This blog will help you navigate the changes, keep your listings compliant, and avoid deactivation starting January 1, 2025.
What is the New EPR Compliance Requirement?
Amazon will soon require sellers to prove their compliance with the German Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for single-use plastics regulation. From January 1, 2025, any non-compliant listings will be deactivated.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what this means for you:
EPR for Single-Use Plastics: This regulation requires producers and sellers to take responsibility for the impact of plastic materials. If your product uses plastic that is meant for single use, you need to prove compliance through proper registration and reporting.
Who Needs to Comply: If you sell products with single-use plastic components on Amazon.de, regardless of your establishment location, compliance is required to continue selling on the platform.
Also Read: Amazon Introduces New Recyclable Packaging in Europe
Steps to Prove Your EPR Compliance
To ensure that your listings remain compliant with Amazon Germany's requirements, follow these steps:
1. Register Your Brands with the German Environment Agency:
Register your brands in each single-use plastics category using the German Environment Agency’s Single-Use Plastics Fund platform (DIVID).
2. Submit Registration Numbers to Amazon:
i) Submit your registration numbers for each brand and product type combination via the Compliance Portal on your Amazon Seller Central account.
ii) You can do this by navigating to Account Health > Policy Compliance > Regulatory Compliance.
iii) Amazon will review your submissions and provide updates on their status within five working days.
3. Report and Pay the Eco-Contribution:
i) Beginning in 2025, report the types and quantities of single-use plastic products you sell in Germany to the DIVID platform annually.
ii) Based on this report, you must pay a levy known as the eco-contribution fee.
What if You Are Not a Producer?
If you are a seller established in Germany but only resell products from other producers, you still need to comply with the new requirements:
- Obtain Registration Numbers: Get the registration numbers from your upstream suppliers.
- Complete Steps 2 and 3: Submit these registration numbers and report sales as outlined above.
For sellers who are not established in Germany but sell in the region, there are additional steps:
Register via DIVID and Appoint an Authorized Representative: Sellers outside Germany must appoint an authorized representative to fulfil their EPR obligations.
How to Check if You Are Considered a Producer
The German EPR law has specific criteria for determining if a seller qualifies as a producer. You can use the Self-Check on Producer Status tool available on the DIVID platform to see if this applies to your business.
Key Highlights of the Compliance Process
- Amazon will begin deactivating non-compliant listings from January 1, 2025.
- Compliance involves registering your brand with the German Environment Agency and providing relevant registration numbers through Amazon's Compliance Portal.
- Reporting and eco-contribution payments need to be made yearly to stay compliant.
- Appointing an authorized representative is mandatory for sellers not established in Germany.
- Registration is done on the German Environment Agency's Single-Use Plastics Fund platform (DIVID).
Additional Resources for Amazon Sellers
Amazon has provided resources to make this process easier for sellers:
Authorized Representative: To find an authorized representative, you can go through Amazon’s Service Provider Network, which includes trusted third-party providers.
Third-Party Compliance Service: Amazon also suggests contacting compliance service providers if you need help meeting the requirements.
Ensuring compliance with Germany's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for single-use plastics is crucial if you want to continue selling on Amazon.de without disruptions. Start preparing by registering with the German Environment Agency and submitting the necessary information to Amazon through Seller Central. This proactive approach will help protect your business from listing deactivations and keep your operations running smoothly.
Also Read: Amazon Announces Reduced Shipping Rates for US-to-UK FBA Shipments
Follow us on Facebook, X and LinkedIn to get the latest news and updates related to online selling.
Disclaimer:
Amazon is the registered trademark of the e-commerce brand.
About ChannelMAX.NET:
ChannelMAX offers Amazon Repricer that runs on the latest AI Repricing algorithm to do Amazon Pricing Management or Amazon Repricing. Based on Amazon SP API, the repricing engine or repricer runs 24/7 and efficiently manages Amazon prices to maximize your BuyBox with profit optimization. Established in 2005, ChannelMAX has been integrated with Amazon technology since 2007, helping thousands of third-party sellers on various eCommerce platforms. Some of the eCommerce platforms, aka marketplaces, supported by ChannelMAX.NET, are Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and Shopify. Some of ChannelMAX key offerings include ChannelMAX Amazon Repricer, 2ndly, ChannelMAX Amazon FBA Audits and FBA Refunds management, an offering for managing Amazon FBA Refunds Reimbursement management for lost or damaged or misplaced inventory for which Amazon is responsible and for which sellers deserve appropriate credit reimbursement from Amazon. ChannelMAX Services offer Remote (aka Virtual) Full-Time eCommerce Assistant to help 3P sellers run their daytoday business.
Check ChannelMAX at Amazon Selling Partner Appstore, an application with a 5 star rating.
Amazon is the registered trademark of the e-commerce brand.
About ChannelMAX.NET:
ChannelMAX offers Amazon Repricer that runs on the latest AI Repricing algorithm to do Amazon Pricing Management or Amazon Repricing. Based on Amazon SP API, the repricing engine or repricer runs 24/7 and efficiently manages Amazon prices to maximize your BuyBox with profit optimization. Established in 2005, ChannelMAX has been integrated with Amazon technology since 2007, helping thousands of third-party sellers on various eCommerce platforms. Some of the eCommerce platforms, aka marketplaces, supported by ChannelMAX.NET, are Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and Shopify. Some of ChannelMAX key offerings include ChannelMAX Amazon Repricer, 2ndly, ChannelMAX Amazon FBA Audits and FBA Refunds management, an offering for managing Amazon FBA Refunds Reimbursement management for lost or damaged or misplaced inventory for which Amazon is responsible and for which sellers deserve appropriate credit reimbursement from Amazon. ChannelMAX Services offer Remote (aka Virtual) Full-Time eCommerce Assistant to help 3P sellers run their daytoday business.
Check ChannelMAX at Amazon Selling Partner Appstore, an application with a 5 star rating.