French/German packaging & DSA for non-EU sellers
Get French packaging numbers, German LUCID registration, and DSA disclosures for non-EU online stores shipping packaged goods to France/Germany. Read the guide in French & German packaging to understand the details.
Do I need a French packaging number to sell online to France?
Who is considered the "producer" under French EPR rules
Under French EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) rules, the "producer" is the entity that places packaged goods on the French market for the first time. For non-EU e-commerce sellers shipping directly to French consumers, YOU are considered the producer — even if you have no physical presence in France. This means you're responsible for registering with a French eco-organisme (packaging compliance scheme) and paying packaging fees.
Renewal, reporting and documentation
French packaging registration is annual. Each year, you must report the weight and type of packaging you placed on the French market (cardboard boxes, plastic wrap, bubble mailers, etc.) and pay fees accordingly. Keep records of: total shipments to France, packaging weight per shipment type, eco-organisme invoices and payment confirmations, and your unique French packaging number. Audits are rare for small sellers but documentation must be available for 5 years.
Common mistakes non-EU sellers make with French packaging rules
Common mistakes: assuming marketplace (Amazon, eBay) handles EPR for you (they don't always — check your seller agreement), underestimating packaging weight (count ALL packaging including outer boxes, inner padding, and product packaging), missing the registration deadline (register BEFORE your first shipment, or face penalties), and forgetting to renew annually (registration expires December 31 each year).
How to version French packaging updates
French packaging rules evolve as new EPR categories are added and fee structures change. Maintain version history of your French EPR assessments in EU Market Ready. Each assessment is timestamped with the French regulation version (e.g., "FR EPR 2025"). When rules change, rerun your assessment and compare obligations to ensure continued compliance.
How to keep an audit trail for clients / partners
Export annual French packaging reports as PDFs showing: registration date and number, total shipments and packaging weights, fees paid, and renewal dates. Share these with your accountant, logistics partners, or business partners to demonstrate compliance. This is especially important if selling through French marketplaces that may audit your EPR status.
Linking French packaging to your marketplace/store
Major marketplaces (Amazon.fr, Cdiscount, etc.) now require sellers to provide a valid French packaging number before listing products. You'll enter your eco-organisme number in your seller account settings. For your own Shopify/WooCommerce store, display your French packaging number in your footer or on a dedicated compliance page. This shows regulators and customers that you're compliant.
How to add FR packaging info to footer or checkout
Add a line to your website footer: "FR Packaging EPR: [Your Number]" or "French packaging: FR123456_01ABCD". For Shopify, add this via theme customization in the footer section. For Next.js / MkSaaS, add it to your Footer component. Some sellers also include this on checkout confirmation pages or in shipping notification emails to French customers.
How to apply for a French packaging number as a non-EU seller
You must join an eco-organisme (like Citeo, Léko, or Adelphe). Application steps: visit the eco-organisme website, select "distance selling" or "cross-border e-commerce" category, provide business registration documents, estimate annual packaging volumes, pay membership and initial fees, and receive your unique packaging number (format: FR######_##XXXX). Processing typically takes 2-4 weeks. Some eco-organismes offer English-language support for international sellers.
How to display eco-contribution / packaging info on your website
French regulations require visible disclosure of your eco-contribution (the packaging fees you pay on behalf of consumers). While you don't need to break it out separately at checkout, your website should mention that prices include environmental contributions for packaging disposal and recycling. Add this to your terms, pricing page, or footer: "Prices include eco-contribution for packaging recycling as required by French law."
German VerpackG (LUCID) registration for cross-border e-commerce
Who must register for VerpackG
Germany's Packaging Act (VerpackG) requires anyone who places packaged goods on the German market for the first time to register in the LUCID packaging register. This applies to non-EU online sellers shipping directly to German consumers. If you ship products in ANY packaging (boxes, mailers, bubble wrap, product packaging) to Germany, you need VerpackG registration — no exceptions, no minimum threshold.
Packaging material reporting basics
German registration requires detailed reporting by packaging material type: paper/cardboard (boxes), plastics (mailers, bubble wrap, product packaging), glass, metals, and composites. You must estimate the total weight (in kg) of each material type you place on the German market annually. Report this data via your dual system (compliance scheme) portal, typically quarterly or annually depending on your volume.
Linking German registration with EU Market Ready reports
Upload your LUCID registration number and dual system contract to EU Market Ready. Track renewal dates, annual reporting deadlines, and packaging volume estimates in your dashboard. Set reminders for quarterly data submissions to your dual system to avoid penalties or suspension from German marketplaces.
How to update your store when German rules change
Germany periodically updates VerpackG requirements (recent changes include stricter enforcement, new material categories, and mandatory LUCID number display on websites). EU Market Ready monitors Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister (ZSVR) announcements and notifies you of changes. Update your footer disclosures and re-register if business structure changes (e.g., new legal entity, changed volume category).
How to explain VerpackG to your 3PL
If you use a third-party logistics provider (3PL) or fulfillment center in or outside Germany, clarify who is responsible for VerpackG compliance. If YOU ship from outside Germany directly to consumers, YOU must register. If your 3PL ships from a German warehouse on your behalf, YOU still must register (unless the 3PL explicitly assumes this responsibility in your contract). Provide your 3PL with your LUCID number for their records.
Annual update / re-registration
Unlike some other EU countries, German VerpackG registration does not expire annually — it remains active as long as you continue to fulfill your reporting and fee payment obligations. However, you must update your data declaration annually (typically by May 15 each year) reporting the previous year's packaging volumes. Failure to submit this declaration can result in fines and marketplace suspension.
How to show Germany-specific info on your site
German law requires you to display your LUCID registration number on your website if you sell to German consumers. Add to your footer or imprint/legal notice page: "LUCID Packaging Register: DE [Your Number]" or "VerpackG Registration: DE123456789012345". This is also required by German marketplaces like Amazon.de to maintain selling privileges.
How to get a LUCID number as a non-EU company
Step 1: Register in the LUCID packaging register at lucid.verpackungsregister.org (free, available in English). Provide business information and receive a LUCID number immediately. Step 2: Contract with a German dual system (compliance scheme) like Interseroh, Der Grüne Punkt, or Zentek. Pay fees based on estimated packaging volumes. Step 3: Enter your dual system contract details into LUCID to activate your registration. You're now compliant and can sell on German marketplaces.
How to prove compliance to marketplaces and platforms
German marketplaces (Amazon.de, Otto, Kaufland) require you to enter your LUCID registration number in your seller account. They periodically verify these numbers against the public LUCID database. Keep your dual system contract active and data declarations up to date. If your LUCID status shows as non-compliant (e.g., missing data declaration or unpaid fees), marketplaces can suspend your listings until you resolve it.
DSA website disclosure for EU consumers
What information must be shown under the DSA
The EU Digital Services Act (DSA) requires online platforms and traders to provide clear, accessible information: legal name and geographical address of the operator, contact details (email, phone), how users can lodge complaints, and (for platforms) information about content moderation and recommendation algorithms. For standard e-commerce stores (not social platforms), focus on business identification and complaint mechanisms.
DSA disclosure + cookie banner + privacy in one footer
Combine all EU compliance links in your footer for easy user access. Recommended footer structure: Legal section (Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Terms of Service), Business section (About Us, Contact, DSA Information / Legal Notice), Customer Service (Returns, Shipping, FAQ), and Compliance section (French Packaging, German LUCID, if applicable). Group logically and use clear labels.
How to log changes to your DSA page
Maintain a version history of your DSA disclosure in your code repository. Add an "Effective Date" or "Last Updated" timestamp on your DSA page. When you change business address, contact information, or complaint procedures, update the page and log the change. EU Market Ready can generate versioned DSA blocks with automatic timestamps.
How often to review DSA text
Review your DSA disclosure: when you change business name, legal structure, or address; when you change primary contact methods; annually as part of general compliance review; and whenever DSA regulations are updated (EU Market Ready will notify you of significant DSA changes). Keep the information current to maintain compliance.
How to notify users about major changes
If you significantly change your business structure or complaint procedures, consider showing a banner or modal notification to returning users on their next visit. Link to the updated DSA information page. For minor updates (like a new phone number), simply update the page and timestamp — no special notification needed.
DSA disclosure for marketplaces vs standalone stores
Marketplaces (platforms that connect buyers and sellers, like your own multi-vendor marketplace) have additional DSA obligations: displaying trader information for each seller, providing content moderation policies, and offering dispute resolution mechanisms. Standalone stores (selling only your own products) have simpler requirements: just business identification and contact/complaint information. EU Market Ready generates appropriate DSA disclosures based on your business model.
How to generate a DSA block inside EU Market Ready
Answer a few questions about your business: legal name and registration number, full business address, contact email and phone, complaint email or form URL, and business type (online store, marketplace, service platform). EU Market Ready generates an HTML block with all required DSA disclosures formatted for easy copy-paste into your website footer or a dedicated DSA information page.
Where to place DSA disclosure on Shopify / Next.js / WooCommerce
Shopify: Create a new page called "Legal Notice" or "DSA Information", paste the generated content, and add a footer link via theme customization. Next.js / MkSaaS: Create a new route like /legal-notice or /dsa-information, paste the DSA content component, and add a link in your Footer component. WooCommerce: Create a new WordPress page, add DSA content, and link from footer via Appearance → Menus.
How DSA disclosure links to GDPR / UK GDPR / contact / returns
DSA and GDPR are complementary but distinct. Your DSA disclosure identifies WHO you are and HOW to complain. Your GDPR privacy policy explains WHAT data you collect and WHY. Your returns/refunds policy covers consumer rights under EU distance selling laws. All three should be easily accessible from your footer. Cross-link where logical: DSA page can link to privacy policy for data processing details, privacy policy can reference DSA contact information for data protection inquiries.
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