Amazon Sellers in Germany Must Now Prove Single-Use Plastics EPR Compliance or Risk Listing Deactivation
Effective immediately, Amazon.de requires sellers of single‑use plastic products to provide a DIVID registration number via the new EPR Compliance tab in Seller Central; listings without a valid DIVID ID or German authorized representative will be deactivated. Amazon validates the entry within five business days and sellers must file annual sales data and pay the eco‑contribution (e.g., €0.012 per bottle, €120 for 10,000 units).
Overview
Amazon .de has introduced a mandatory check for sellers to demonstrate adherence to Germany’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules covering single‑use plastic packaging. Effective immediately, any seller who cannot provide the required registration details will see the affected listings removed, making compliance essential for continued sales in the German marketplace.
Key Points
- DIVID registration required — Every brand that places single‑use plastic items on the German market must be entered in the official DIVID portal; for example, a cosmetics brand using plastic squeeze tubes must create a DIVID account and record the product line.
- Seller Central submission — After obtaining the DIVID registration number, sellers upload it through the new EPR compliance tab in Seller Central; Amazon typically validates the entry within five business days.
- Annual reporting and contribution — Sellers must file a yearly statement of quantities sold and remit the corresponding eco‑contribution fee to DIVID, such as paying €120 for 10,000 units of plastic‑wrapped snack bars.
- Authorized representative for foreign sellers — Companies based outside Germany need to designate a German‑resident representative who can receive official correspondence and manage the EPR filings on their behalf.
- Risk of listing deactivation — Listings that lack a valid DIVID number or an appointed representative will be automatically suspended, as happened to several non‑compliant sellers in the first rollout week.
How EPR Compliance Works
- Create a DIVID account and register each brand — The seller signs up on the DIVID website, selects the applicable single‑use plastic categories (e.g., packaging, disposable cutlery), and receives a unique registration number; a German‑based kitchenware brand obtained “DE‑12345” for its plastic utensil line within two days.
- Enter registration numbers in Amazon’s EPR dashboard — Using the Seller Central “EPR Compliance” section, the seller inputs the DIVID numbers for each SKU; Amazon’s system cross‑checks the numbers and sends a confirmation email, typically within the five‑day review window.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
Non‑compliant sellers face automatic suspension of their product listings on Amazon.de, potentially losing sales and market presence. The requirement adds a concrete registration step (DIVID ID) and annual fee, affecting both domestic and foreign sellers who must also appoint a German‑resident representative.
Key Takeaways
- DIVID registration is mandatory for every brand selling single‑use plastic in Germany; each brand receives a unique ID such as DE‑12345.
- Amazon validates uploaded DIVID numbers within five business days; missing or invalid IDs trigger automatic listing suspension.
- Annual eco‑contribution is calculated per unit (e.g., €0.012 per plastic bottle) with examples like €120 for 10,000 snack‑bar units.
- Foreign sellers must designate a German‑resident authorized representative and enter their details in the EPR dashboard.
Recommended Actions
- →Log into Seller Central > Performance > EPR Compliance tab and upload the DIVID registration number for each SKU.
- →If not registered, create a DIVID account at divid.de, register each brand, and record the assigned registration number.
- →For non‑EU sellers, appoint a German authorized representative and add their contact information in the EPR dashboard.
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