When a seller has no valid EPR registration in a country, Amazon can step in under its Pay-on-Behalf (POB) programme: it registers the packaging, pays the recycling fee, and recovers the cost from you. It keeps your listings live — but it is rarely the cheapest option.
Why POB tends to cost more
- Service margin. POB bundles the underlying EPR fee with Amazon's handling, so you pay more than the raw scheme fee.
- No control of declarations. Amazon estimates your packaging; you cannot optimise materials or correct over-reporting.
- It only covers Amazon. Sales through your own site or other marketplaces are not covered, so you may still need to register anyway.
Self-registration: what you get
- You pay the scheme's fee directly, without a marketplace markup.
- You control the reported volumes and material breakdown.
- Your registration covers all your sales channels in that country, not just Amazon.
How to switch off Pay-on-Behalf
Register with the national scheme, obtain your EPR number, and enter it in Amazon Seller Central for that marketplace. Once Amazon validates the number, it stops charging you under POB for future periods.
Compare the numbers before you decide: estimate your direct fees with the Packaging EPR Calculator and read the provider comparison in our EPR cost guide.
Fee structures and POB terms change. Verify Amazon's current charges and the scheme's direct fees for your volumes before switching.