EPR in Austria 2026: Packaging, WEEE & Batteries

What changed in 2026

The biggest change in 2026 is EU-wide: the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR, Regulation (EU) 2025/40) entered into force on 11 February 2025 and applies from 12 August 2026. It largely replaces the old Packaging Directive 94/62/EC, which was generally repealed on the same date. Because it is a regulation, it applies directly in Austria alongside the national packaging rules.

• Authorized representative under Art. 45 PPWR: producers who sell packaged products directly to end users in another member state – whether they are established in the EU or outside it – must appoint an authorized representative in each member state where they first make packaging available, other than their own. In Austria, the practical vehicle is the Bevollmächtigter under §§ 16a–16e Verpackungsverordnung.
• Pragmatic enforcement: the European Commission has asked member states to enforce the representative duty "in a constructive and pragmatic" way while an exemption is negotiated.
• Penalty rules: member states must lay down PPWR penalty rules by 12 February 2027. According to the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO), no Austrian draft of PPWR penalty provisions had been published as of 6 October 2026. Existing AWG penalties continue to apply.
• Marketplaces: Amazon's global notice of 25 March 2026 announced packaging EPR compliance across the EU from 12 August 2026 and names Austria for cross-border sellers.

Austria vs. Germany: why a German registration is not enough

Austria does not simply mirror Germany. Many sellers assume that a German LUCID registration or a German representative also covers Austria. It does not: LUCID is Germany's packaging register, and Austria has its own legal basis, its own registration route (EDM) and its own representative rules.

If you already sell in Germany, see our Germany guide and the step-by-step LUCID registration guide on register-epr.com – then treat Austria as a separate project.

Packaging obligations in Austria

A producer, for EPR purposes, is the business that first makes packaging available on the Austrian market. Under the PPWR distance-seller definition, a seller established elsewhere who ships packaged goods directly to Austrian end users is the producer of that packaging – including the shipping box, filling material and product packaging.

For foreign distance sellers, the Austrian route typically looks like this:

1. Map your packaging. List the packaging that reaches Austrian consumers: product packaging, shipping cartons, mailers, filling material, by material and weight.
2. Appoint a Bevollmächtigter. §§ 16a–16e Verpackungsverordnung require foreign distance sellers to private consumers to appoint an authorized representative in Austria.
3. Register via EDM. Registration runs via EDM, the electronic data management system of the ministry BMLUK.
4. Arrange system participation. Missing system participation (licensing) is a specific offence under AWG § 79.
5. Keep records and report. Record-keeping and reporting breaches are also penalised under AWG § 79, so keep your quantity data per material clean from day one.

Which licensing system and reporting rhythm apply depends on your products and volumes – we check the current route for you.

WEEE obligations (electrical and electronic equipment)

Foreign distance sellers of electrical and electronic equipment to Austrian consumers must appoint a Bevollmächtigter. The legal basis is § 12a AWG together with §§ 21a–21c of the WEEE Ordinance (Elektroaltgeräteverordnung, EAG-VO).

The Bevollmächtigter acts for you towards the Austrian authorities. A registration with stiftung ear in Germany does not cover Austria.

Battery obligations

Batteries are governed by the EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, whose EPR regime applies since 18 August 2025. Austria additionally requires foreign distance sellers of batteries to appoint a Bevollmächtigter under § 12a AWG.

• From 18 February 2027 (reported): QR code on all batteries, removability and replaceability rules, and a battery passport for EV, LMT and industrial batteries above 2 kWh.
• 18 August 2027 (reported): due-diligence obligations, postponed by Regulation (EU) 2025/1561.
• Proposal – not yet law The EU Omnibus would also suspend the batteries representative duty; Parliament voted on 20 October 2026, the Council position is pending.

Authorized representative (Bevollmächtigter) in Austria

A Bevollmächtigter is an Austria-based authorized representative who fulfils the producer's EPR obligations in Austria on behalf of a seller established elsewhere. It is required for foreign distance sellers to private consumers for packaging (§§ 16a–16e Verpackungsverordnung) and for electrical equipment and batteries (§ 12a AWG; §§ 21a–21c EAG-VO).

The representative can only report what you supply, so clean quantity data and clear product scoping matter.

How Certify helps

1. Free obligation check. Tell us what you sell, how you ship and through which channels (Amazon, eBay, own shop).
2. Route mapping. We identify which Austrian registrations, licensing and representative mandates apply and check the current route with the relevant bodies.
3. Representation. Certify can act as your authorized representative and coordinate registration and reporting – also in the other EU countries you ship to.

More on the role: authorized representative explained (register-epr.com).

Deadlines relevant for Austria

These EU dates apply to sellers in Austria (no Austria-specific PPWR transition dates are confirmed in our sources yet):

All countries in one view: EPR deadline calendar 2026–2027.

Penalties in Austria

Austrian EPR penalties are set by § 79 of the Waste Management Act (AWG). According to WKO:

• €450 to €8,400 for missing system participation, plus up to twice the participation fee.
• Up to €3,400 for breaches of record-keeping or reporting obligations.

Specific PPWR penalty rules are due EU-wide by 12 February 2027; no Austrian draft had been published as of 6 October 2026 (WKO). On marketplaces, Amazon may need to stop selling non-compliant products, and eBay may hide listings where the required EPR number is missing.