Anyone selling packaged goods in several European countries will sooner or later be asked for their EPR number: by a marketplace, a trading partner or an authority. The catch is that there is no single European EPR number. Every country runs its own register, issues its own identifiers and has its own rules on who must register and whether foreign companies need a local representative.
This article explains what an EPR number is, how to obtain one in the main markets, and what changes under the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Alongside Germany, Austria, France, Spain and Italy, we also cover Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland, where producer responsibility for packaging has been significantly tightened in recent years.
What is an EPR number?
EPR stands for Extended Producer Responsibility. Whoever first places packaging on the market in a country must register there and pay for its collection and recycling. The EPR number is the registration number issued by the national register. It proves that a company meets its registration obligations in that country.
The number is always country-specific. A German LUCID number is not valid in France, and a French identifier is not valid in Spain. If you sell in five countries, you will usually need five registrations.
Why this matters more now
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) has applied since 12 August 2026. It requires producers to register in every Member State where they first make packaging available, and requires producers without an establishment in that country to appoint an authorised representative Naturvårdsverket, PPWR guidance for packaging producers.
However, the PPWR does not create a single EU register. Registration continues through the national registers. An implementing act on a harmonised registration format is planned but has not yet been adopted Miljødirektoratet.
Marketplaces add further pressure: since 2022 Amazon has required a valid LUCID number in Germany and suspends listings without one; a similar rule applies in France for all EPR categories Amazon Seller Central.
Countries at a glance
| Country | Register / authority | Identifier | Compliance scheme | Representative for foreign producers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | LUCID (Central Agency Packaging Register, ZSVR) | Registration number DE + 13 digits | Mandatory dual system for packaging subject to system participation | Required for distance sales to end users without an establishment (Section 5 VerpackDG) |
| Austria | EDM register of the environment ministry | GLN from the EDM registration | Collection and recovery system, e.g. ARA | Required for distance sellers since 2023 |
| France | SYDEREP (ADEME) | Identifiant Unique (IDU), per EPR stream | Mandatory via an eco-organisme, e.g. Citeo, Léko, Adelphe | Generally required; check current rules |
| Spain | Registro de Productores de Producto, packaging section (MITECO) | Registration number, e.g. ENV/2023/… | Mandatory since 2025 (SCRAP or individual system), incl. commercial packaging | Possible via an authorised representative |
| Italy | CONAI | No separate national EPR number | CONAI membership mandatory (or own system) | No clear rule found |
| Denmark | Dansk Producentansvar (DPA) | Registration with DPA | Mandatory via a collective scheme, e.g. VANA | Representative with a Danish CVR number |
| Sweden | Producer register of Naturvårdsverket | Entry in the producer register | Via approved organisations, e.g. NPA, TMR | Required for EU producers not established in Sweden |
| Norway (EEA) | Miljødirektoratet | Membership of a take-back scheme | Mandatory, e.g. Grønt Punkt Norge, Norsirk | Permitted; membership requires a Norwegian VAT number |
| Finland | Lupa- ja valvontavirasto (LVV), since 2026 | Entry in the producer register | Via Rinki | Check requirements case by case |
Germany
In Germany, the Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR) issues a registration number in the format "DE" followed by 13 digits via the LUCID register ZSVR. Since 12 August 2026, the Packaging Law Implementation Act (VerpackDG) has replaced the former Packaging Act (VerpackG). One change: producers without an establishment in Germany who supply end users directly must appoint an authorised representative and name them in LUCID. The registration itself remains the producer's own obligation ZSVR, authorised representatives.
For packaging subject to system participation, joining a dual system is also mandatory. Failing to register can be fined up to EUR 100,000, failing to join a system up to EUR 200,000 Section 66 VerpackDG. For more detail, see our guide to EPR in Germany and the LUCID packaging register.
Austria
The legal basis is the Packaging Ordinance 2014 (Verpackungsverordnung). Companies register in the EDM register of the environment ministry and receive a GLN as their identifier. For household packaging, joining a collection and recovery system such as ARA is mandatory. Distance sellers not established in Austria have had to appoint an authorised representative since 1 January 2023 Austrian Business Service Portal. Until national rules are aligned with the PPWR, the existing obligations continue to apply BMLUK.
France
France issues the Identifiant Unique (IDU) via the SYDEREP register of the environment agency ADEME. A separate number is issued per EPR stream, so household packaging has its own identifier. In practice, it is obtained by joining an eco-organisme such as Citeo, Léko or Adelphe data.gouv.fr. Fees are eco-modulated, with bonuses and penalties based on recyclability Citeo 2026 tariff guide. Since 2022, online marketplaces have had to check whether their sellers meet their EPR obligations.
France also has a labelling requirement: the Triman logo with Info-tri sorting instructions. We explain how it works in our article on the Triman logo and Info-tri.
Spain
Since Royal Decree 1055/2022, Spain has applied producer responsibility to all packaging. Producers register in the Registro de Productores de Producto, packaging section, with the environment ministry MITECO MITECO. Since 1 January 2025, joining a collective scheme (SCRAP) or running an individual system has been mandatory, explicitly including commercial and industrial packaging Cuatrecasas. Ecoembes has modulated its fees according to environmental criteria since 2024.
Italy
Italy has no separate national EPR number. Producers and users of packaging must join the CONAI consortium or set up an independent system, and pay the environmental contribution (Contributo Ambientale CONAI). For plastic packaging, this contribution has been differentiated by packaging type since 2018 CONAI. Depending on volume, declarations are filed monthly, quarterly or annually.
The Nordics: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland
The Nordic countries have reorganised or significantly expanded producer responsibility for packaging in recent years. For companies supplying the region, Denmark is the most relevant market.
Denmark
Denmark introduced extended producer responsibility for packaging on 1 October 2025, under Executive Order No. 1146 of 29 September 2025 UNEP LEAP. The key points:
- Register: Producers register with Dansk Producentansvar (DPA). New producers must do so 14 days before first placing packaging on the market.
- Collective scheme: Joining a collective scheme such as VANA is mandatory.
- Representative: Foreign companies need a representative with a Danish CVR number.
- Reporting: The annual report to DPA is due by 1 June, for the first time in 2026 Danish Environmental Protection Agency.
Denmark built eco-modulation in from the start: since 1 October 2025, packaging has been classified as green, yellow or red. Red packaging carries a 35 percent surcharge. Recyclability therefore already has a direct cost impact in Denmark today.
The classification and fee logic are published by collective schemes such as VANA VANA FAQ.
Sweden
In Sweden, producers register in the producer register of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Naturvårdsverket. Since 12 August 2026, the PPWR producer definition has applied. Producer responsibility is fulfilled through approved organisations such as NPA (which took over FTI in 2024) and TMR. EU producers not established in Sweden need an authorised representative; Naturvårdsverket has proposed extending this to non-EU producers Naturvårdsverket.
Norway
Norway is not an EU member but part of the European Economic Area. The PPWR will only apply there once it has been incorporated into the EEA Agreement. Until then, Chapter 7 of the Norwegian Waste Regulations governs producer responsibility. Membership of a take-back scheme such as Grønt Punkt Norge or Norsirk is mandatory, but only companies with a Norwegian VAT number can become members Norwegian Environment Agency.
Finland
Since 1 January 2026, Finland's producer register has been held by the new supervisory authority Lupa- ja valvontavirasto (LVV); previously the Pirkanmaa ELY Centre was responsible Edilex. Producer responsibility is fulfilled through Rinki. Foreign distance sellers also count as producers Rinki.
How to approach multiple countries
List the countries where you first place packaging on the market, and whether you count as the producer there or an importer or distributor takes on that role.
For each country: registration in the national register, membership of a scheme or producer responsibility organisation, and an authorised representative where required.
Keep all registration numbers in one place and share them with marketplaces and trading partners.
Material, weight and recyclability per packaging item are the basis for every quantity report and for eco-modulated fees, for example in France or Denmark.
Each country has its own reporting deadlines, such as 15 May in Germany or 1 June in Denmark.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an EPR number that is valid across Europe?
No. Each country issues its own registration numbers. The PPWR does not create a single EU register either; it relies on the national registers.
Do I need an authorised representative in every country?
The PPWR requires an authorised representative when you make packaging available in a Member State where you have no establishment. Countries implement this differently, for example Germany for distance sales to end users, or Denmark through a representative with a Danish CVR number.
Where do I get the EPR number for Amazon?
For Germany, it is the LUCID registration number issued by the Central Agency Packaging Register; for France, it is the Identifiant Unique (IDU). Other countries have their own identifiers.
Does the PPWR apply in Norway?
Only once it has been incorporated into the EEA Agreement. Until then, Norwegian national law applies.
Since when has Denmark had producer responsibility for packaging?
Since 1 October 2025, including eco-modulated fees in green, yellow and red tiers.
Related reading
- EPR Germany: Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging Explained
- LUCID Packaging Register 2026: Registration, Deadlines and the 5 Costliest Mistakes
- EPR Fees in Germany: How They're Calculated and How to Cut Them
- Triman Logo and Info-tri: France's Packaging Labelling Requirement Explained
One data foundation for every market
The more countries you supply, the more registers, deadlines and fee models you have to manage. The requirements differ in detail, but the data they need barely does: material, weight, recyclability and quantity per packaging item and country. Maintain that data cleanly once, and every national report can be derived from it.
This article provides a general overview as of October 2026 and does not constitute legal advice. National requirements are changing frequently, especially as countries align with the PPWR. Check the current rules of the relevant authority before entering a market.
