Regulation (EU) 2025/40 — the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) — starts applying on 12 August 2026. It replaces the old Packaging Directive with a single, directly binding rulebook across all 27 EU member states. For Amazon FBA sellers shipping from China, Hong Kong or anywhere outside the EU, this is the compliance deadline that matters most this year.

What actually changes on 12 August 2026

PPWR tightens the rules that already sit underneath EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility): every business that places packaged goods on an EU market is a "producer" and must be registered, must report the packaging it puts on the market, and must pay recycling fees. Marketplaces are increasingly required to verify that sellers hold valid registrations before allowing listings to stay live.

  • EPR numbers per country. A German LUCID number does not cover France or Italy — each country runs its own scheme and needs its own registration.
  • Marketplace checks. Amazon already blocks or restricts listings in Germany and France where a valid EPR number is missing; expect this net to widen across the EU.
  • Design rules phase in. Recyclability grades, recycled-content minimums and packaging minimisation follow on later dates, but the registration and reporting duties bite now.

Your 30-day action plan

  1. List where you sell and store. Amazon stores stock in fulfilment centres across several countries — storage can create an obligation even without a local storefront.
  2. Register for EPR in each country. Germany (LUCID), France, Italy, Spain, and any other market where you sell or hold stock.
  3. Appoint any required representatives. Some schemes require a local authorised representative for non-EU sellers.
  4. Report your packaging volumes by material (plastic, paper/board, glass, metal) and keep the evidence.

Not sure whether you are caught? Run the free EPR Obligation Quiz to see your per-country duties in a couple of minutes, or check the full timeline on the EPR Deadline Calendar.

Dates and enforcement details evolve. Treat this as a starting point and verify the current requirements for each market before you file.