For cross-border sellers, EPR compliance in Germany and France is a critical step for entering the European market. At the end of each year and the beginning of the next, renewing EPR registrations and submitting declarations become essential tasks sellers must address—failure to do so risks having their registration numbers revoked!

Failure to complete EPR renewals and compliance requirements on time will result in non-compliant products being directly delisted by platforms like Amazon, and may also lead to restrictions on store sales privileges. With the year-end peak season approaching, to ensure the continued validity of EPR registration numbers and maintain normal store operations, sellers are strongly advised to expedite renewal procedures immediately!

Core Rules for EPR Certificate Validity

1. Calendar Year System

EPR certificates follow a calendar year cycle, with each validity period running from January 1 to December 31. Regardless of when a seller completes registration within the year, the validity period uniformly expires at the end of that calendar year.

2. No Fixed Term

Certificates have no predetermined expiration date. As long as sellers complete annual renewals as required and submit compliant operational data, the validity period can be extended indefinitely.

Failure to renew on time will result in automatic certificate revocation after the calendar year ends. To regain compliance status afterward, sellers must complete the full registration process again and pay the full registration fee.

Why renew EPR early?

“Why start arranging renewals now, months in advance?”

This is because EPR registrations are valid for calendar years—from January 1 to December 31 annually. Renewal applications for the following year must be submitted during the fourth quarter of each year.

The renewal deadlines announced by EPR authorities in different countries vary and are mostly set before year-end. Renewal windows typically open starting in October each year. Delaying until December or year-end risks failure due to system closures or processing delays.

Therefore, sellers must complete payment before their respective deadlines to ensure uninterrupted compliance with EU market sales and reporting obligations.

Note: If your EPR account is not renewed, you must initiate the deregistration process. Failure to complete proper deregistration will result in being blacklisted by authorities, impacting overseas personal credit records, and preventing future registration under relevant compliance regulations in EU countries.

Consequences of Late Renewal

1. Registration Number Expiration and Cost Escalation

Failure to renew on time will result in the EPR registration number being revoked by authorities. Re-registration requires paying the full registration fee again, re-running the entire process, and may incur additional account cancellation fees.

2. Platform penalties and sales interruption

E-commerce platforms like Amazon, Temu, and AliExpress regularly verify sellers' EPR status. If an invalid registration number is detected, the platform will remove related products and may restrict or freeze store sales privileges, causing immeasurable losses before the year-end peak season.

3. Customs Clearance Blocked, Goods Detained

Upon arrival in France, goods lacking a valid EPR registration number may be detained or returned by customs, resulting in significant financial losses.

4. Brand Reputation Damage

In Europe's environmentally conscious market, EPR compliance is a crucial demonstration of a brand's social responsibility. Failure to comply severely damages brand image and erodes consumer trust.

5. Facing Hefty Fines

Europe's strong environmental awareness is well-known. Non-compliant sellers risk substantial fines—for example, Germany imposes penalties up to €100,000!

EPR Renewal FAQ

1. Do I need to renew if my registration is less than one year old?

Yes. EPR renewals are based on calendar years. Regardless of when you register, the validity period expires on December 31 of that same year. Therefore, you must renew for the following year before the next calendar year begins.

2. How do I determine how many EPRs to register?

This depends on your product category and countries of sale. For example, if you sell apparel on Amazon Germany and France, you need to register for German Packaging Act, French Packaging Act, and French Textiles—totaling three EPRs.

3. Do I need multiple EPRs for multi-platform sales?

No. Regardless of how many platforms you sell on, only one EPR is required for the same product sold to the same country. However, EPRs are not transferable between countries.

4. Do I still need to file reports after deregistering an EPR?

Yes. Even if you plan to deregister an EPR, you must complete reporting and pay applicable recycling fees before deregistration.