Update on German WEEE and Packaging Law

February 17th, 2021

The German Government has adopted an amendment to the country’s WEEE Law. The goal of the revision is to increase collection to reach the 65% target rate set by the European Union, as well as to strengthen the preparation for reuse of WEEE.

To achieve this goal, the government proposes to expand take-back obligations for distributors. In addition to electrical retailers, food retailers with a sales area of at least 800 square metres, which sell electrical equipment at least several times a year, will be obliged to take back WEEE. The government’s proposal is currently being debated within the country’s upper house before it goes to parliament.

In addition, the government has adopted an amendment to the Packaging Law to transpose certain provisions of the European Single-Use Plastics Directive and the Waste Framework Directive into national law and to strengthen enforcement.

Online marketplaces and fulfilment service providers will have to ensure that retailers are registered with a packaging scheme and manufacturers based outside of Germany will be able to appoint an authorised representative. This proposal still needs to be debated in both the upper house and parliament.

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