Germany has implemented PPWR through its own law, VerpackDG. You now need your own LUCID registration, because it can no longer be delegated to Printify.
This applies to anyone shipping to Germany, at any volume, from anywhere in the world.
Your deadlines
Germany had packaging rules before PPWR. Your compliance deadline depends on whether you already have your own registration. If you were relying on Printify's LUCID ID, you now need your own. German law now treats registration as a personal obligation, so it must be in your own business’s name.
Never registered under the previous rules?
Register with LUCID by September 12, 2026.
Already registered?
Update your LUCID registration by November 12, 2026.
What you need to do to comply
Step 1: Check whether you need an authorized representative in Germany
If your business has no establishment in Germany, you will need to appoint a German-based authorized representative before your orders enter the German market. You'll be asked for their details during LUCID registration, so sort this out first.
Once appointed, they handle your other packaging obligations for as long as the contract runs, including:
- Signing a system participation agreement with one or more dual system providers
- Reporting your packaging volumes
- Submitting declarations of completeness
- Meeting the packaging return obligations under section 39 of the VerpackDG
You must register for LUCID yourself – a representative cannot do this for you.
Step 2: Register for LUCID under your own business name
Register as a producer at verpackungsregister.org. This is the official register.
You'll need to:
- Confirm the activation link in your email within 24 hours of creating your login. Check your spam folder, as it may end up there.
- Provide master data, such as the company address, phone number, VAT number or national taxpayer reference, and national identification number.
- Select your packaging type from the two categories.
a. Packaging subject to system participation
b. Packaging not subject to it.
The packaging used to fulfill Printify orders is subject to system participation.
- List the brand names visible on your packaging. If your store name differs from your company name, it counts as a brand. If you run several stores, list them all.
- Confirm in the declaration step (step 3) that you meet the system participation requirement.
Step 3: Sign an agreement with a dual system provider
LUCID registration tells German authorities you're putting packaging on the market. Getting it collected and recycled is a separate, paid arrangement.
For that, you contract a dual system provider: a licensed private company that collects and recycles packaging waste on your behalf, for a fee based on how much packaging you put on the market and what it's made of.
Der Grüne Punkt is one of the best-known providers in Germany. The full list of approved providers is on the ZSVR site.
Depending on the terms of your agreement with your authorized representative, they may register with a dual system provider and report your packaging details to them on your behalf. Clarify this when choosing a representative to avoid doing double work or skipping vital steps.
Most merchants who run into trouble stop after Step 2. Registration alone is not compliance.
Step 4: Report your packaging volumes
Your dual system provider will ask you to report how much packaging you've put on the German market and what it's made of. If you used Printify’s LUCID number before, you’ll need to declare the packaging starting from August 12th, as this is when the obligation shifted from Printify to you. The dual system provider will then invoice based on those quantities reported.
Printify is working on support for the reporting obligations that come with LUCID registration. We'll share more as soon as we can.
Step 5. Submit your LUCID ID to every sales channel
Registering doesn't notify your sales channels. You have to submit the number yourself, on each platform.
- Etsy: Dashboard → Finances → Legal and tax information → Government Registrations → Add LUCID ID → Submit
- Amazon: Switch to the Amazon.de marketplace in Seller Central, follow the banner asking for your LUCID number, then submit it under the Germany section of the Compliance Portal. Validation takes up to five business days, and your listings can stay blocked until it’s complete.
- eBay: My eBay → Account → Business Information → Business details → Add, next to LUCID ID → Save
- TikTok Shop: Seller Center → My Account → Qualification Center → Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) → enter your LUCID ID
- Other channels: Contact that platform's support team
Marketplace requirements change, so check the current rules on every platform you sell on.
What’s changing for sales within the EU?
Germany is one of the first EU countries with PPWR rules in force
The EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR, Regulation 2025/40) applies from August 12, 2026. It introduces rules across all EU countries to make packaging more sustainable, reduce waste, and advance the circular economy.
Germany has implemented PPWR into national law through VerpackDG. In other EU countries, the previous EPR rules still apply until PPWR-related changes are implemented.
We're monitoring the rest of the EU and will keep you updated.
You must register for LUCID yourself
Until August 11, 2026, merchants who used Printify for all their German fulfillment could give Printify's LUCID ID to their sales channel instead of registering separately.
However, this is no longer an option. Registering with Germany's Central Packaging Register (LUCID) is now a personal obligation that each business must complete under its own name, even if Printify fulfills every one of your German orders.
It’s about where you sell, not where you are
For example, a US-based seller with no legal entity in the EU is still considered a producer under the PPWR. If you ship to Germany, these regulations apply to you. Even if you've never had an EPR obligation anywhere, you have one now.
Registration applies to any merchant selling to customers in Germany, regardless of sales volume or business location.
Producer or manufacturer: Which one are you?
Producer: That's you
The producer is the party that invoices the end customer. If you ship orders to customers in Germany, that's you. Under VerpackDG, producers register with LUCID under their own business name, contract a dual system provider to handle collection and recycling, report the weight of packaging by material, and pay the associated fees.
Some other EU countries may allocate the role differently, so if you sell elsewhere in the EU, check your position there separately.
Manufacturer: That's not you
The manufacturer is the entity that makes the packaging, or has it designed or made, and markets it under its own name. The manufacturer handles packaging conformity, including technical documentation and the EU Declaration of Conformity. Based on the European Commission's current guidance as of July 31, 2026, this role likely sits with Printify’s Print Providers. Any Declaration of Conformity would be issued under the Print Provider's name.
If a marketplace or authority asks you for packaging documentation, contact our Support Team. We'll get in touch with the relevant Print Provider.
What happens if you don't comply
Marketplaces are enforcing this independently of us.
They're legally required to restrict sales by sellers without a valid EPR number, which can result in:
- Deactivated listings
- Blocked shipping to Germany
- A suspended account
German authorities can impose fines of up to €100,000 for failing to register, and up to €200,000 for other offenses under section 66 of the VerpackDG.
The good news?
None of this happens if you register and follow the other steps as described above.
Resources
Printify Help Center
What are my EPR obligations under the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)?
What PPWR is, how the producer and manufacturer roles work, and what's changing across the EU.
Do I need to register for a LUCID number for selling within Germany?
The registration walkthrough, dual systems, and how to submit your number to Etsy and eBay US.
Official German sources
on what changes from August 12, 2026
Not sure where you stand? Contact our Support Team.
FAQ
This information is for guidance only and isn't legal advice. EPR requirements differ between jurisdictions and continue to evolve. We recommend speaking with your own legal advisor about the obligations that apply to your business.
