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Amazon will verify EPR numbers for every EU country from 12 August 2026
By Karim El Achaq, founder of EUReady · Last updated: 6 July 2026
- From 12 August 2026, Amazon verifies packaging EPR registration numbers for every EU country where a seller's products are distributed (previously Germany, France and Spain).
- Sellers without valid numbers face listing deactivation per country or automatic enrollment in Amazon's paid Pay on Behalf program, with surcharges.
- The trigger is the PPWR, the EU packaging regulation applicable from the same date.
- This is not an Amazon quirk: the law applies to all channels, including your Shopify store. Marketplaces are just the fastest enforcers.
What did Amazon announce?
Amazon told sellers that from 12 August 2026 it will verify packaging EPR registration numbers for every EU country where their products are distributed. Until now, verification covered Germany, France and Spain. Sellers who cannot show valid numbers face deactivation of their listings in the affected country, or automatic enrollment in Pay on Behalf, where Amazon registers and pays on the seller's behalf and charges the cost back with a margin.
The date is not Amazon's choice: it is the day the PPWR, the new EU packaging regulation, becomes applicable across the EU. Marketplaces are legally pushed to check that their sellers comply, exactly as they already do for GPSR product information.
What is Pay on Behalf and what does it cost?
Pay on Behalf is Amazon's fallback: instead of blocking you, Amazon fulfils the EPR obligations for you and bills you. It removes the immediate delisting risk but is typically more expensive than registering yourself, gives you no control over the declared volumes, and leaves you dependent on Amazon's process. Treat it as an emergency buffer, not a strategy.
What do you need per country?
A packaging EPR registration in each EU country where your products are sold or shipped, obtained directly from the national scheme or through an EPR service provider. The big ones for most sellers:
| Country | Registration | Already verified by Amazon? |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | LUCID number (ZSVR) + dual system contract | Yes, since 2022 |
| France | ADEME unique identifier via an eco-organisation (Citeo) | Yes, since 2022 |
| Spain | Producer register number + eco-organisation | Yes, since 2023 |
| Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Poland, Ireland, Sweden and the rest | National register or eco-organisation per country | Verified from 12 August 2026 |
Our PPWR guide lists the registries by name, and our step-by-step LUCID and Citeo guides cover the two countries with the heaviest enforcement history.
The realistic action plan before 12 August
- Pull your sales by EU country (Seller Central reports, plus your other channels).
- Check what you already have: LUCID number valid, French IDU active, Spanish register up to date.
- Close the gaps in your real markets first. Registering in a country where you sell three parcels a year can wait or go through Pay on Behalf temporarily; your top five markets cannot.
- Enter every number in Seller Central as soon as you have it. Processing takes days, verification queues will be long in August.
- Keep the weight data. Registration is step one; every scheme then wants periodic packaging weight reports.
I sell only on Shopify. Why should I care?
Because the obligation comes from the law, not from Amazon. The PPWR covers distance sellers on every channel; Amazon is simply the first checker with a database and a delist button. France and Germany already fine unregistered foreign sellers, carriers increasingly ask for EPR data, and the next wave of verification is expected from other marketplaces and payment or logistics partners. A Shopify seller who registers now sells through August while competitors scramble.
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Frequently asked questions
Does Amazon verification apply to FBA and FBM alike?
Yes. The obligation attaches to the products you place on the market, not to who stores or ships them. FBA can even put your products in more EU countries than you actively target, widening your registration scope.
What happens exactly if I have no EPR number on 12 August 2026?
Amazon either deactivates your listings in the affected country or enrolls you in Pay on Behalf and charges you for fulfilling the obligations. Which one applies depends on country and category; neither is cheaper than registering yourself.
Can I just let Amazon handle it with Pay on Behalf?
You can, temporarily. It is typically more expensive, you lose control over declared volumes, and it only covers Amazon sales: your Shopify or eBay sales in the same country remain your problem.
Is this the same as the GPSR checks Amazon already does?
No. GPSR checks concern product safety information on listings (manufacturer, responsible person, warnings). EPR verification concerns packaging waste registration numbers. You need both.
Official sources
This guide is general information for online sellers, based on publicly available EU legislation. It is not legal advice. Regulations evolve and national rules differ: for decisions that matter to your business, confirm with a qualified professional or the official sources linked above.