Product and outer packaging that is disposed of after consumption or use of the goods by the private end consumer in Germany is considered by the German Packaging Act to be packaging requiring a license, i.e. it must be licensed with a dual system. However, who is responsible for which packaging?
Find out what the Packaging Act means for you as a non-German producer in the following practical cases:
You sell your products yourself and/or your products are sold to the private end consumer in Germany via the trade*
According to the German Packaging Act, as the company that fills the packaging, you are responsible for the participation (synonym: "licensing") of the following packaging in a dual system:
- Product and outer packaging including all components
Exception: Your products are imported into Germany by a distributor based in Germany who is legally responsible for the goods at the time they cross the border. Recommendation: The responsibilities should be laid down in the contract.
*Important: Private end consumers also include so-called equal accumulation points such as gas stations, museums, drinking halls, etc. according to the Packaging Act.
You sell your products (additionally) online
You will find detailed answers on online trading in the context of the German Packaging Law on the following page:
The Packaging Law for onlineshops
Sie sind im Ausland ansässig und verkaufen Ihre Produkte direkt an deutsche Endverbraucher
Da Sie bei einem direkten Versand an den deutschen Endverbraucher ohne Zuschaltung eines Zwischenhändlers beim Grenzübertritt der Ware die Verantwortung für diese tragen, sind Sie für die Systembeteiligung folgender Verpackungen verantwortlich:
- alle Verpackungen und Verpackungsbestandteile, die mit in den deutschen Geltungsbereich eingeführt werden
