EPR Obligations EU → 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
EPR in the United Kingdom 2026: Packaging (PackUK), WEEE & Batteries
UK packaging EPR is a national regime outside the EU: producers register with the UK environmental regulator, report packaging data and pay fees, including waste disposal fees invoiced by PackUK. UK sellers who also ship to EU customers need separate EU registrations — UK numbers are not valid there.
Last reviewed: · Sources linked below
Short answer: UK EPR for packaging (pEPR) is the United Kingdom's own producer responsibility regime. Producers register on gov.uk with the environmental regulator, report packaging data and pay fees, including waste disposal fees invoiced by PackUK, the scheme administrator. The EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) does not apply in the UK — but it does apply to everything a UK business sells into the EU.
UK EPR at a glance
- Packaging register / scheme(s)
- Registration with the environmental regulator via gov.uk (directly or through a compliance scheme); PackUK issues notices of liability for waste disposal fees.
- Authorized representative
- UK side: not covered by this guide — check gov.uk for your role. EU side: UK distance sellers selling directly to EU end users need an authorized representative in each member state under PPWR Art. 45.
- WEEE
- Separate UK WEEE regime; amended from 12 August 2025 so that online marketplaces became producers.
- Batteries
- UK battery rules are not covered in detail on this page — check gov.uk. UK sellers placing batteries on EU markets follow the EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 there.
- Thresholds
- Duties differ for large and small producers; gov.uk defines the size thresholds. For 2026 data, large producers report the second half-year and small producers the full year.
- Fees
- 2027 registration fee: £2,842 (large producer, direct) or £1,803 (via compliance scheme); online marketplaces +£2,885; late fee £386.
- Marketplace checks
- For EU sales, Amazon may stop selling non-compliant products and eBay may hide listings in EU countries where the seller lacks a packaging EPR number.
- What changed in 2026
- 2027 registration deadline on 1 October 2026; Year-2 fees with RAM modulation; PackUK's first 2026–27 notices of liability planned for end of November 2026; RAM 2027 from 1 January 2027.
What changed in 2026
For UK producers, 2026–27 brings three changes: registration for 2027, recyclability-based fee modulation and the next round of PackUK invoices.
- 1 October 2026: registration deadline for the 2027 registration year (gov.uk guidance updated 19 August 2026).
- Year-2 fees: the second fee year is the first with modulation based on the recyclability assessment methodology (RAM): green, amber and red ratings. The gov.uk figures for Year 2 are illustrative.
- End of November 2026: PackUK plans to issue the first 2026–27 notices of liability.
- 1 January 2027: RAM 2027 applies to packaging supplied from that date.
- 1 April 2027: reporting deadline for 2026 data and registration deadline for sellers whose only activity is selling filled packaging to end users.
EU side: since 12 August 2026 the PPWR applies in all 27 EU member states. It does not change UK law, but UK companies shipping to EU customers are distance sellers under the PPWR and need EU registrations and representatives. See Selling into the EU and our PPWR 2026 update page.
UK EPR for packaging: registration and reporting
UK packaging EPR requires obligated producers to register with the environmental regulator, report the packaging they supply and pay fees. Large producers can register directly or through a compliance scheme; the registration fee differs accordingly.
- Check whether you are an obligated producer and whether you are large or small, using the gov.uk criteria.
- Register with the environmental regulator on gov.uk, directly or via a compliance scheme. For 2027, the registration deadline was 1 October 2026; sellers whose only activity is selling filled packaging to end users register by 1 April 2027.
- Report packaging data: large producers report data for the second half of 2026 by 1 April 2027; small producers report their full-year 2026 data by 1 April 2027.
- Pay the waste disposal fees if you are liable for them, as invoiced by PackUK (notices of liability). The first 2026–27 notices are planned for end of November 2026.
- Assess recyclability with RAM: red, amber and green ratings drive the modulated fee; RAM 2027 applies to packaging supplied from 1 January 2027.
Missed the 1 October 2026 deadline? gov.uk lists a late registration fee of £386. Register as soon as possible and check the current guidance for your producer type.
UK EPR fees 2027
UK packaging EPR has two cost layers: a registration fee paid to the regulator and waste disposal fees per tonne of packaging invoiced by PackUK.
Registration fees for 2027
| Producer type | 2027 fee |
|---|---|
| Large producer, registering directly | £2,842 |
| Large producer, via a compliance scheme | £1,803 |
| Online marketplace (additional) | +£2,885 |
| Late registration | £386 |
Waste disposal fees per tonne: Year 1 and Year 2 (illustrative)
Year-1 base fees (2025 to 2026) are confirmed. The Year-2 figures published on gov.uk are illustrative, rounded to the nearest £5 and subject to change; red is set at 1.2 times amber in Year 2.
| Material | Year 1 base (£/t) | Year 2 green | Year 2 amber | Year 2 red |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | 266 | 245 | 270 | 325 |
| Fibre-based composite | 461 | 475 | 525 | 630 |
| Glass | 192 | 185 | 205 | 245 |
| Paper and board | 196 | 190 | 210 | 250 |
| Plastic | 423 | 415 | 455 | 545 |
| Steel | 259 | 260 | 290 | 345 |
| Wood | 280 | 410 | 450 | 540 |
| Other | 259 | 205 | 225 | 270 |
Source: gov.uk, Year 2 illustrative waste disposal fees. Year-2 values are illustrative only; check PackUK for confirmed figures before budgeting.
WEEE and batteries in the UK
UK WEEE is a separate regime from packaging EPR and from EU WEEE law. It was amended from 12 August 2025: online marketplaces became producers for the purposes of UK WEEE. An EU registration (for example with stiftung ear in Germany) has no effect in the UK, and a UK registration has none in the EU.
UK battery obligations are not covered in detail here; check the current gov.uk guidance. If you sell electrical equipment or batteries in both markets, plan separate registrations on each side. In the EU, the battery EPR regime has applied since 18 August 2025, and further EU requirements (QR code, removability, battery passport for EV, LMT and industrial batteries above 2 kWh) are expected from 18 February 2027.
Selling from the UK into the EU
A UK company that sells packaged goods directly to consumers in an EU country is a distance seller under the PPWR and must register in that country. Under Article 45 PPWR, producers selling directly to end users in a member state — whether EU or non-EU established — must appoint an authorized representative there.
| EU market | Packaging register / duty | Representative |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | LUCID (ZSVR), free; dual-system participation | § 5 VerpackDG: required for producers without a German branch selling directly to end users |
| France | UIN per EPR stream (ADEME / SYDEREP) | Mandataire required since 10 July 2026 for producers not established in France |
| Spain | MITECO producer register (packaging section) | Representante autorizado for producers established outside Spain |
| Netherlands | Verpact registration above 50,000 kg per year | See country guide |
| Ireland | Repak for major producers (≥10 t and turnover >€1m) | Irish representative required for WEEE and batteries |
Marketplaces check the EU numbers: Amazon's notice of 25 March 2026 covers packaging EPR compliance across the EU from 12 August 2026, and eBay requires packaging EPR numbers per country where the seller is the producer — listings may be hidden from buyers there.
Proposal – not yet law The EU exemption from the representative duty under discussion (Council position 21 October 2026, Parliament position 20 October 2026) covers only EU-established producers. It would not help UK sellers.
How Certify helps UK sellers
- Free obligation check: which EU countries, which streams (packaging, WEEE, batteries) and which representatives apply to your sales.
- EU registrations: Certify GmbH registers you in the EU countries you sell to and acts as your authorized representative where required — authorized representative in all EU member states.
- One overview: EU deadlines and reports for all your countries in one place, next to your UK obligations.
More on EPR numbers per EU country: EPR number guide on register-epr.com · authorized representative explained.
UK and EU deadlines 2026–2027
| Date | Scope | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 2026 | UK | Packaging EPR registration deadline for 2027 (passed) |
| End Nov 2026 | UK | PackUK plans first 2026–27 notices of liability |
| 1 Jan 2027 | UK | RAM 2027 applies to packaging supplied from this date |
| 12 Feb 2027 | EU | Member states' PPWR penalty rules due; German PPWR-related fines apply |
| 18 Feb 2027 | EU batteries | QR code, removability, battery passport (EV, LMT, industrial >2 kWh) |
| 1 Apr 2027 | UK | Large producers: H2 2026 data · small producers: full-year 2026 data · filled-packaging-only sellers: registration |
| 17 May 2027 | DE | German completeness declaration for 2026 (relevant if you sell into Germany above the thresholds) |
| Pending | EU | Proposal – not yet law PPWR representative exemption for EU-established producers |
All EU dates: EPR deadline calendar.
Penalties and late fees
The only UK figure we publish here is the official late registration fee of £386 for packaging EPR. Enforcement and sanctions are a matter for the UK environmental regulators; check gov.uk for the current position.
For EU sales, national fines apply in each country — for example up to €200,000, €100,000 or €10,000 depending on the offence in Germany (§ 66 VerpackDG), or up to €30,000 plus up to €20,000 per day in France. Details are in the Germany and France guides.
Frequently asked questions — UK EPR
What is UK EPR for packaging?
UK EPR for packaging is the United Kingdom's own extended producer responsibility regime. Obligated producers register with the environmental regulator via gov.uk, report the packaging they supply and pay fees, including waste disposal fees invoiced by PackUK, the scheme administrator. It is separate from the EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR).
What is PackUK?
PackUK is the scheme administrator for UK packaging EPR. It issues notices of liability for waste disposal fees and plans to send the first 2026–27 notices at the end of November 2026.
What are the UK EPR registration fees for 2027?
According to gov.uk, the 2027 registration fee is £2,842 for a large producer registering directly or £1,803 via a compliance scheme. Online marketplaces pay an additional £2,885, and the late registration fee is £386.
When is the next UK EPR reporting deadline?
1 April 2027. Large producers report their data for the second half of 2026 by then, and small producers report their full-year 2026 data. Sellers whose only activity is selling filled packaging to end users must also register by 1 April 2027.
What are the UK EPR waste disposal fees?
Year-1 base fees are confirmed, for example £423 per tonne for plastic and £192 per tonne for glass. Year 2 introduces red, amber and green fees based on the recyclability assessment methodology (RAM); the Year-2 figures published on gov.uk are illustrative and subject to change.
Do UK sellers need EU EPR registrations?
Yes. UK registrations are not valid in the EU. A UK company selling packaged goods directly to consumers in an EU country is a distance seller under the PPWR, must register in that country and, under Article 45 PPWR, appoint an authorized representative there. The EU exemption under discussion covers only EU-established producers.
Are online marketplaces producers under UK WEEE rules?
Yes. The UK WEEE regime, which is separate from packaging EPR, was amended from 12 August 2025 so that online marketplaces became producers.
- gov.uk – Register with the environmental regulator: EPR for packaging
- gov.uk – Packaging data: reporting periods and submission deadlines
- gov.uk – Year 2 illustrative waste disposal fees
- EUR-Lex – Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR)
- eBay UK Seller Centre – Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
- 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 check: UK seller, EU customers — which EPR duties apply?
Selling from the UK into the EU, or from the EU into the UK? Tell us your setup. We check which EU registrations and authorized representatives you need and what changes for you in 2027. Your message is delivered directly to Certify — specialists in EU-wide producer responsibility compliance. Free first consultation, no obligation. Response within 24 hours.