So we have two slightly different messages coming out about EPR.
Ebay USA :
Ebay UK:
Which is correct. Does this only apply to sellers "on Ebay in Germany" or all sellers who export to Germany.
Second question: Does this apply to sellers of used goods? I only sell "used" photos and postcards for the most part to Germany. Last year it was 20 packages for about $481. Excluding used photo or postcard it amounts to paper 42 ounces and plastic 18 ounces. I made a assumption it was .001 on their tool which was the minimum of 39 Euros or about $42.50 at the current exchange rate.
Ebay's message leaves a lot of ambiguity in it.
@nky-photos wrote:So we have two slightly different messages coming out about EPR.
Ebay USA :
Ebay UK:
Which is correct. Does this only apply to sellers "on Ebay in Germany" or all sellers who export to Germany.
Second question: Does this apply to sellers of used goods? I only sell "used" photos and postcards for the most part to Germany. Last year it was 20 packages for about $481. Excluding used photo or postcard it amounts to paper 42 ounces and plastic 18 ounces. I made a assumption it was .001 on their tool which was the minimum of 39 Euros or about $42.50 at the current exchange rate.
Ebay's message leaves a lot of ambiguity in it.
@nky-photos - I found this less ambiguous info on the help page, which makes me wonder why the announcement messaging couldn't have just copy and pasted this to be more clear. 🤔
When you sell packaged items to buyers in Germany, you must follow the requirements of the German Packaging Act (Verpackungsgesetz or VerpackG). This applies to all business sellers shipping items to a German delivery address.
As of July 1, 2022 eBay is legally obligated to confirm our sellers meet these requirements. If you do not comply with the Packaging Act, your eBay account may be restricted.
Sellers affected by the Packaging Act
The German Packaging Act affects business sellers whose items end up with private consumers in Germany.
This includes:
- Packaging your items and shipping them OR
- Importing already-packaged items into Germany
Types of packaging required to be licensed
The Packaging Act concerns all packaging that ultimately ends up with the German end user and that will need to be disposed of by them.
The overall term used here is "sales packaging" and this means:
- Product packaging
- Shipment packaging (including filling and cushioning materials)
- Service packaging (for example carrier bags or coffee-to-go cups).
It doesn't matter what material the packaging is made of, because all packaging has to be licensed – including cardboard, plastic, and glass
Requirements for business sellers
There are three legal requirements for sellers under the Packaging Act:
- License (aka "system participation") your packaging quantities with a dual system.
- Register in the "LUCID" register - opens in new window or tab, provided by the central authority "Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister" (ZSVR). After registration, you will receive your individual LUCID registration number (= EPR number for packaging). Submit this number to your dual system.
- Enter the name of your dual system and your packaging quantity licensed in step 1 in the LUCID reporting register of the ZSVR.
Much clearer except for one thing.
"The German Packaging Act affects business sellers whose items end up with private consumers in Germany."
Ebay does not consider me a business. Does that mean non-business as defined by ebay, AKA, I do not have a Tax-ID number except for SSN, must comply with act.
@valueaddedresource wrote:
@nky-photos wrote:
Much clearer except for one thing.
"The German Packaging Act affects business sellers whose items end up with private consumers in Germany."
Ebay does not consider me a business. Does that mean non-business as defined by ebay, AKA, I do not have a Tax-ID number except for SSN, must comply with act.
@nky-photos good point! Logic would say the easy distinction would be between a "business" or "individual" account here on eBay but....as we all know, logic doesn't always factor into these things and the lines between business and personal accounts are increasingly blurring.
tyler@ebay velvet@ebay - please follow up with the appropriate teams to get us a clearer answer on this one.
Hi @valueaddedresource! This is very new to us too, so we reached out to get clarification. What we have found is that no matter the size of the seller (business/personal), if they are selling and shipping to Germany and the item will be packaged in some form, they will need to comply with this requirement. We'll be sure to get the Weekly Chat post updated that you referenced above. Thanks!
*****
Edited 5/10/2022: We've been advised that this only applies to business sellers.
@dbfolks166mt wrote:
Anything I sell internationally ships through the eBay GSP, or on occasion a freight forwarder, so it would be on the GSP or the freight forwarder to insure compliance.
Hey @dbfolks166mt! I don't readily see anything on how this will work with GSP so I'm going to see what I can find out and will follow-up with you here. Great question, thank you!
