Overview

Germany’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law now obligates every seller who ships packaged goods to German consumers to register with the national LUCID packaging database. Amazon.de enforces the rule by suppressing listings that lack a valid LUCID number, meaning non‑compliant sellers can see their products disappear from the marketplace overnight. Sellers using Amazon’s Pan‑European FBA or storing inventory in German fulfillment centers must act quickly to avoid sales interruptions.

Key Points

• Mandatory LUCID registration — All sellers delivering packaged items to Germany must obtain a LUCID number from the ZSVR before any product can be listed on Amazon.de.
• Amazon blocks non‑compliant listings — If a seller’s Seller Central account does not contain a verified LUCID number, Amazon automatically hides the affected listings on the German site.
• Dual‑system contracts may be required — Depending on the material (e.g., cardboard, plastic, metal), sellers often need to sign a contract with a licensed waste‑management provider that handles collection and recycling.
• Regular volume reporting is compulsory — Registered sellers must submit quarterly packaging‑weight reports to both their dual‑system partner and the ZSVR, with fees calculated per kilogram of material.
• Fines and legal action for violations — The ZSVR can levy monetary penalties on unregistered sellers, and repeated breaches may trigger court proceedings.
• Impact spreads beyond Germany — Similar EPR schemes are emerging in France, Spain, and other EU states, so compliance in Germany serves as a template for broader European operations.

How the EPR Requirement Works

1. Create a LUCID account on the ZSVR portal — A seller from the United States logs into the ZSVR website, fills out the company profile, and receives a LUCID number such as “DE‑12345678” within 10‑14 business days.
2. Enter the LUCID number in Amazon Seller Central — The same seller navigates to the “EPR Compliance” tab, inputs the newly issued LUCID ID, and submits the data; Amazon then validates the entry over a five‑day window before re‑activating the German listings.