EPR Obligations EU → 🇫🇷 France
EPR in France 2026: Packaging, WEEE, Batteries & UIN
Every producer selling EPR-covered products in France needs a unique identification number (UIN) from ADEME for each EPR stream. Since 10 July 2026, producers not established in France must also appoint a France-established mandataire (authorized representative) — EU and non-EU sellers alike.
Last reviewed: · Sources linked below
Short answer: France runs around 20 separate EPR streams (filières REP), from household and professional packaging to electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), batteries and textiles. For each stream that covers your products you need a UIN (identifiant unique), issued by ADEME through its SYDEREP platform. If your company is not established in France, you also need a mandataire in France since 10 July 2026.
EPR France at a glance
- Packaging register / scheme(s)
- UIN per EPR stream, issued by ADEME via SYDEREP; producers usually comply collectively through an approved producer responsibility organisation (éco-organisme), which registers them in SYDEREP. Household packaging and, since 1 January 2026, professional packaging are separate streams.
- Authorized representative
- Mandatory since 10 July 2026 for every producer not established in France, EU and non-EU, for all EPR streams (Art. L. 541-10-9-1, Loi n° 2026-602). Deemed met where a France-established marketplace handles compliance.
- WEEE
- Separate EPR stream with its own UIN; same mandataire duty for foreign producers.
- Batteries
- Separate EPR stream with its own UIN; EU Battery Regulation EPR regime applies since 18 August 2025.
- Thresholds
- ADEME's UIN guidance does not describe a de-minimis threshold: the UIN duty is linked to placing EPR-covered products on the French market.
- Penalties
- Up to €30,000 plus a daily penalty of up to €20,000 per day (Art. L. 541-9-5 Code de l'environnement, according to ADEME).
- Marketplace checks
- Marketplaces count as producer for third-party goods unless they hold proof of the seller's UIN. Amazon names France among its EU packaging EPR countries and may stop selling non-compliant products.
- What changed in 2026
- Professional packaging stream since 1 January 2026; mandataire duty since 10 July 2026; PPWR applies since 12 August 2026; textile eco-modulation since 1 September 2026; ultra-fast-fashion advertising ban from 1 January 2027.
What changed in 2026
2026 brought France's biggest change for foreign sellers since the UIN: a mandatory French representative (mandataire) for every producer not established in France. At the same time the EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR, Regulation (EU) 2025/40) has applied since 12 August 2026.
- 1 January 2026 — professional packaging: a new EPR stream for industrial and commercial packaging started.
- 10 July 2026 — mandataire duty: Loi n° 2026-602 of 8 July 2026 (published in the Journal officiel on 9 July 2026) inserted Article L. 541-10-9-1 into the Code de l'environnement. According to analyses by Gossement Avocats and the producer responsibility organisation Léko, any person not established in France who is subject to EPR must appoint a France-established mandataire by written mandate. It applies to all EPR streams and to EU and non-EU producers.
- 12 August 2026 — PPWR: the EU regulation applies directly. Under Article 45, distance sellers selling packaged products directly to end users in another member state need an authorized representative there.
- 1 September 2026 — textiles: eco-modulation for textile products started.
- 1 January 2027 — ultra fast fashion: the advertising ban for ultra-fast-fashion products is scheduled to apply.
Proposal – not yet law The EU Environmental Omnibus would suspend the PPWR representative duty for some EU-established producers (Council position of 21 October 2026: under 1 tonne of packaging per year in another member state, until 2032; Parliament position of 20 October 2026: EU micro and small enterprises until 2035). Even if adopted, it would not remove the French national mandataire duty under Loi n° 2026-602, and it does not cover non-EU sellers. Updates: PPWR 2026 page.
UIN France: the unique identification number
The UIN (identifiant unique, IDU) is proof that a producer is registered in ADEME's SYDEREP declaration tool for one EPR stream. It has been mandatory since 1 January 2022 (Art. L. 541-10-13 Code de l'environnement). A producer selling packaged electronics with batteries therefore typically holds several UINs — one for each stream.
How to get a UIN
- Identify your streams. Producers include manufacturers, distributors and importers that place EPR-covered products on the French market, including foreign distance sellers.
- Join an éco-organisme (collective scheme) for each stream. The éco-organisme registers you in SYDEREP and sends you the UIN. Alternatively, a producer can run an individual system accredited by the ministry; ADEME then sends the UIN.
- Provide your company data: name and identifiers (VAT number for EU companies, equivalent identifiers for non-EU companies), address, contact details and the relevant product categories.
- Appoint a mandataire if your company is not established in France (since 10 July 2026).
- Publish the UIN in your general terms and conditions of sale (CGV) and on your website, and give it to buyers on request.
Overview of EPR numbers in all EU countries: EPR number guide on register-epr.com.
Packaging obligations in France
Packaging is covered by two French EPR streams: household packaging and, since 1 January 2026, professional (industrial and commercial) packaging. Each stream requires its own UIN, membership of an approved éco-organisme (or an accredited individual system), annual declarations of the packaging placed on the market and payment of eco-contributions.
- Eco-modulation already applies: French eco-contributions are modulated today; EU-harmonised modulation by recyclability grade under the PPWR is expected later (around 2028–2030).
- Distance sellers: foreign web shops and marketplace sellers shipping to French consumers are producers for the packaging they place on the market.
- Amazon: Amazon's global notice of 25 March 2026 names France among the EU countries where packaging EPR compliance is checked from 12 August 2026; Amazon may need to stop selling non-compliant products.
WEEE registration in France
WEEE registration in France means obtaining a UIN for the electrical and electronic equipment stream — through an approved éco-organisme or an accredited individual system — before selling. The rules are the same as for every other stream: one UIN per stream, shown in your terms and on your website, plus a mandataire if you are not established in France.
- Register the EEE you sell into France with an éco-organisme, which registers you in SYDEREP and issues the UIN.
- Since 10 July 2026, producers not established in France — including German, Polish or Chinese sellers — need a France-established mandataire.
- Marketplaces are treated as the producer for third-party products unless they hold proof of the seller's UIN, so marketplaces have a strong reason to ask for your WEEE UIN.
- If your equipment contains batteries, check whether the battery stream applies as well.
Battery obligations in France
Batteries are a separate French EPR stream with their own UIN. In addition, the EPR regime of the EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 has applied in all member states since 18 August 2025.
- Join an approved éco-organisme for batteries or run an accredited individual system; obtain the battery UIN.
- Producers not established in France need a mandataire since 10 July 2026.
- EU-wide, QR codes on all batteries, removability/replaceability rules and the battery passport for EV, LMT and industrial batteries above 2 kWh are expected from 18 February 2027.
Triman, sorting information and textiles
The Triman logo is still mandatory in France. The European Commission referred France to the Court of Justice of the EU on 17 July 2025 in connection with these national labelling rules; there has been no ruling yet, so the French requirement continues to apply.
Harmonised EU packaging labels under the PPWR apply only from 12 August 2028 or 24 months after the implementing acts — which had not been adopted as of September 2026.
Textiles and fast fashion
- Textile eco-modulation has applied since 1 September 2026.
- The ban on advertising for ultra-fast-fashion products is scheduled from 1 January 2027.
Mandataire: the authorized representative in France
A mandataire is a France-established person or company appointed by written mandate to fulfil EPR obligations on behalf of a producer that is not established in France. Since 10 July 2026 this is mandatory for all EPR streams and for EU and non-EU producers alike (Art. L. 541-10-9-1 Code de l'environnement). The answer for each seller type: authorized representative (mandataire) in France.
| Your situation | Mandataire required? |
|---|---|
| Company established in France | No |
| EU company (e.g. Germany, Poland) selling EPR products into France | Yes, since 10 July 2026 |
| Non-EU company (e.g. China, UK, US) selling EPR products into France | Yes, since 10 July 2026 |
| Sales only through a France-established marketplace that handles your EPR compliance under Art. L. 541-10-9 | Duty deemed met — check that the marketplace actually handles it for your products |
How Certify helps
- Free obligation check: we map your products to the French EPR streams and tell you which UINs and which mandate you need.
- Registration and representation: Certify GmbH organises éco-organisme membership and UINs with you and arranges the mandataire required since 10 July 2026.
- Ongoing compliance: declarations, eco-contributions and new rules (PPWR, textiles) are handled together with your other EU countries.
EPR deadlines for France 2026–2027
French and EU dates relevant for sellers. Full calendar: EPR deadlines.
| Date | Scope | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 | FR | Professional packaging EPR stream starts |
| 10 Jul 2026 | FR | Mandataire duty for producers not established in France (Loi n° 2026-602) |
| 12 Aug 2026 | EU | PPWR applies; Art. 45 representative duty for distance sellers |
| 1 Sep 2026 | FR | Textile eco-modulation |
| 1 Jan 2027 | FR | Ultra-fast-fashion advertising ban |
| 12 Feb 2027 | EU | Member states' PPWR penalty rules due |
| 18 Feb 2027 | EU batteries | QR code, removability rules, battery passport (EV, LMT, industrial >2 kWh) |
| Pending | EU | Proposal – not yet law PPWR representative exemption for EU-established producers (trilogue) |
| Pending | FR / EU | CJEU case on French labelling rules (Triman) — no ruling yet |
Penalties in France
If EPR obligations are not met, ADEME's UIN guidance refers to fines of up to €30,000 and a daily penalty of up to €20,000 per day, which may apply from a set date until compliance (Art. L. 541-9-5 Code de l'environnement).
| Consequence | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fine | Up to €30,000 |
| Daily penalty | Up to €20,000 per day until compliance |
| Marketplace | Marketplace becomes the producer for your goods unless it holds proof of your UIN — and may therefore stop selling them |
Frequently asked questions — EPR in France
What is a UIN in France?
The UIN (identifiant unique) is a unique identification number issued by ADEME that proves a producer is registered in the SYDEREP declaration tool for one EPR stream. It has been mandatory since 1 January 2022. A producer needs one UIN per stream and must show it in its general terms and conditions of sale and on its website.
Do foreign sellers need a mandataire in France?
Yes. Since 10 July 2026, Article L. 541-10-9-1 of the Code de l'environnement, inserted by Loi n° 2026-602, requires any producer not established in France that is subject to EPR to appoint a France-established mandataire by written mandate. This applies to all EPR streams and to EU and non-EU producers. The duty is deemed met where a France-established marketplace handles the compliance.
How does WEEE registration in France work?
You obtain a UIN for the electrical and electronic equipment stream, normally by joining an approved éco-organisme that registers you in ADEME's SYDEREP tool, or through an individual system accredited by the ministry. Producers not established in France also need a mandataire since 10 July 2026. Marketplaces treat themselves as producer unless they hold proof of your UIN.
How many EPR streams are there in France?
France operates around 20 EPR streams (filières REP), including household packaging, professional packaging (since 1 January 2026), electrical and electronic equipment, batteries and textiles. Each stream that covers your products requires its own UIN.
Is the Triman logo still mandatory?
Yes. The Triman logo remains mandatory in France. The European Commission referred France to the Court of Justice of the EU on 17 July 2025 in connection with these labelling rules, but there has been no ruling, so the French requirement still applies.
What are the penalties for missing EPR compliance in France?
According to ADEME, the penalties under Article L. 541-9-5 of the Code de l'environnement are a fine of up to €30,000 and a daily penalty of up to €20,000 per day until compliance. In addition, marketplaces count as producer for your goods unless they hold proof of your UIN.
- ADEME – Unique identification number (UIN)
- Légifrance – Loi n° 2026-602 du 8 juillet 2026 (JORF)
- Gossement Avocats – analysis of Loi n° 2026-602
- Léko – mandataire duty for producers established outside France
- EUR-Lex – Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR)
- Amazon Global Selling – EU packaging EPR notice (25 March 2026)
This page is general information, not legal advice. Last reviewed 27 October 2026.
Other country guides
EPR obligations are national: registers, schemes and representative rules differ from country to country.
Free EPR check for France: UIN, mandataire and WEEE
Tell us which products you sell to French customers and through which channels. We check which EPR streams apply, which UINs you need and whether you must appoint a mandataire under the new Article L. 541-10-9-1. Your message is delivered directly to Certify — specialists in EU-wide producer responsibility compliance. Free first consultation, no obligation. Response within 24 hours.