New EU packaging law since 12 August 2026 · small shops too
Even with a few parcels a month. Take the free check and see per country what to arrange, and by when.
01 · Free scan
Four questions, two minutes, no email needed. You’ll see what you need to arrange in each country, and by when.
Step 1 of 4
02 · What’s changing
Since 12 August 2026 one European packaging law applies in all 27 EU countries, for small businesses as much as large ones. The idea is simple: if you sell to consumers, you help pay for collection and recycling. To do that you register in every country where your customers are. The trade term for this is EPR.
Selling
Since 2022 Amazon has been able to block listings without a German or French registration number. Now other marketplaces and your fulfilment partner must ask for your numbers too. Selling through your own shop and shipping yourself? Then nobody checks up front, and the responsibility is entirely yours.
Registering
Shipping parcels straight to consumers in another EU country? Then you register there, however small you are. Below 10 tonnes of packaging a year, only the annual report is lighter. Note: the Dutch 50,000 kg threshold for Verpact says nothing about Belgium or Germany.
Representative
Selling to consumers in a country where your company isn’t based? Then you usually appoint a representative there in writing, who acts on your behalf. France and Austria require this in their own law too. For electronics and batteries this has applied for longer.
03 · Why it adds up
Packaging, electronics and batteries each have their own office in every country, with its own login, its own language and its own annual report. Selling clothing? Then France adds another one, and the Netherlands has had a separate scheme since 1 July 2023.
Offices, each with its own login. You don’t need to learn them all.
Indicative. The Netherlands itself has a packaging threshold (50,000 kg a year). Belgium, Germany and France don’t.
Our mission
On paper you sell across the EU without borders. In practice you redo everything per country: registrations, representatives, declarations, each with its own rules and forms. Big brands have a department for that. Small brands don’t, so they leave countries untouched.
That’s why we’re building EuroPlaybook: one place where you see what each country needs, and where we will take the paperwork off your hands. So a parcel to Ghent or Cologne is as ordinary as one to the next town.
04 · Deadlines
These dates come from the law or the compliance schemes, checked on 21 October 2026. Already registered in Germany? Then 12 November is your next deadline.
Selling in France? You need a French representative, for every type of product.
In forceThe new EU rules apply: registration and a representative in every other country where your customers are. Germany has a new packaging law from now on.
In forceAlready registered in Germany? Add your German representative to your registration (LUCID) before this date. They must confirm it too, so start in time.
FixedHolding a German packaging licence under the old law? It ends by this date at the latest.
FixedSelling products with batteries? The battery label needs a QR code.
FixedSelling in Belgium? File your annual Fost Plus report, now for small volumes too.
FixedSelling clothing or home textiles? Every EU country has a textile scheme. Businesses under 10 staff follow on 17 April 2029.
FixedPackaging gets the same sorting labels across Europe.
FixedIn development · Dutch brands first
05 · How it works
For brands of 1 to 20 people who have no time to read legislation. You don’t need to learn any portals: you check and approve, and the rest runs through us and accredited partners.
Shopify, WooCommerce, Lightspeed, Odoo, bol, Amazon or Kaufland. We can only read, never change anything. That’s how we know what you ship where, through which channel, without you filling in spreadsheets.
Per country and product type: the registrations, numbers and deadlines that apply to you, and what’s already done.
Accredited representatives and compliance schemes register you and act on your behalf. You don’t have to work out who you need where. We’ll name the partners before we launch.
We prepare your reports from your own sales data. You check and approve.
06 · FAQ
Probably not entirely. You’ll usually have a licence for your packaging. On top of that, your German registration (LUCID) must name a representative by 12 November 2026, and licences under the old law end by 31 December 2026 at the latest. Ask your provider whether both are covered, or take the scan and compare the result with what you have.
Yes. There is no minimum: even with a few parcels a month you register in every country where your customers are. Below 10 tonnes of packaging a year, only the annual report is lighter. The 50,000 kg threshold applies only in the Netherlands, and there only for now: it is expected to end around 2029.
Yes, you stay responsible. Marketplaces have to check that you’re registered: Amazon already does this for Germany and France. bol doesn’t check packaging numbers yet, but will have to. For electronics and batteries, bol already asks for your registration.
Yes. Your packaging always counts. Clothing also has its own rules: the Netherlands has had UPV Textiel since 1 July 2023, France has its own office (Refashion), and every EU country must have a scheme by 17 April 2028. The scan shows what applies to you.
Perhaps in part, but not soon. The European Parliament wants a pause for micro and small EU businesses (vote of 20 October 2026), but the member states stopped negotiating in June 2026. France and Austria require a representative in their own law, and registration in each country stays either way.
Only what’s needed to prepare your reports: orders, products and countries. The connection is read-only, so we can’t change anything in your shop.
The price isn’t set yet. We’ll announce it before we start, to everyone on the list first, and only then do you decide. EuroPlaybook is made for brands of 1 to 20 people, not for large companies. The scan is free and joining the list commits you to nothing.
No. The scan gives an indication based on the rules as we checked them on 21 October 2026. Steps that need a licence go through accredited partners.
We only use it to keep you informed about EuroPlaybook. You can unsubscribe at any time, with one click.
Early access
We’re starting with Dutch brands selling to Belgium, Germany and France, then the rest of Europe. Leave your email address and you’ll be the first to hear what it costs and when you can start.