Overview

Amazon.de automatically disables product listings that do not satisfy Germany’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules for waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). The deactivation started in early 2023 and affects any seller who offers devices, accessories or components that fall under the WEEE definition. Restoring those listings requires proof of compliance, making the issue critical for anyone selling electronic goods on the German marketplace.

Key Points

• Mandatory WEEE registration — From 1 January 2023, Amazon checks every electronic‑related ASIN for a valid German WEEE registration number; listings without it are taken down.
• All electronic sellers impacted — The rule applies to domestic and overseas sellers alike, regardless of whether the product is manufactured, imported or simply resold on Amazon.de.
• Producer vs. non‑producer route — Sellers who place the product on the German market for the first time must follow the producer compliance path, while those who act only as downstream resellers follow a non‑producer route.
• Stiftung EAR as the authority — The German foundation Stiftung EAR issues the official registration numbers; each brand‑type combination (e.g., “Brand X – Bluetooth speaker”) needs its own entry.
• Bulk reactivation possible — After the registration numbers are verified, sellers can reactivate listings individually or via Amazon’s bulk tools, saving time for large catalogs.

How Reactivation Works

1. Enroll in an EPR solution — Choose either Amazon’s own EPR compliance service or a third‑party provider from Amazon’s approved network. For example, a seller of smart home hubs can sign up with a provider that generates the required registration numbers for each hub model.
2. Confirm visibility on Stiftung EAR — Log into the Stiftung EAR portal and wait until the newly created registration numbers appear. Submitting a number that is not yet visible will cause Amazon’s verification to fail, as happened with a vendor who tried to upload a registration for a newly launched tablet before the portal reflected it.