Amazon has recently updated news regarding the new requirement for Single Use Plastics (SUP). All sellers selling their products in Germany will have to comply to this rule. This rule will be effective as of 01.01.2025. Sellers risk getting their products suspended if requirements are not met before this date.
Who is subjected to this rule?
The European Union released a directive, 2019/904 EWKRL, which is aimed to reduce the impact of plastic towards the environment. According to the directive, certain plastics are not to be sold, plastic products have to be labelled correctly, as well as making sure plastic is collected and properly disposed of at the end of its lifecycle. As an answer to this directive, Germany set up the Single-Use Plastic Fonds Act (EWK-Fonds Gesetz) to make sure that obligations are followed.
According to this act, manufacturers who sell products containing plastics in Germany, regardless whether it is a local manufacturer or an importer outside of Germany, are obligated to comply. As long as the consumer or customer is in Germany, the plastic product is governed under this act. Manufacturers have to register the product on the German Environment Agency's Single-Use Plastics Fund platform (DIVID).
What kind of products are considered SUP?
Products that need to be registered on DIVID and fall under this rule are:
- Plastic take-away containers *
- Plastic cups and containers *
- Plastic bags
- Wet tissues
- Balloons
- Tobacco products that contain a filter or filters used together with tobacco products.
* Re-usable plastic containers do not fall under this rule.
When do I need to start registering on DIVID?
Companies based in Germany can register right away on the platform. For foreign companies, they are allowed to start registering on 01.08.2024.
Make sure to complete all registrations before 01.01.2025 and upload related information to your Amazon seller account to avoid any risks and issues.
Still don't know what to do or how to do?
eLing is an official authorized representative on DIVID. We are eligible to help your company to reduce the stress of doing e-commerce and the numerous amount of paperwork one needs to go through.
Simply contact us if you have any questions or issues with this topic, or problems just in general.
Thank you very much for your attention.