As the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is set to replacethe previous Packaging Directive, registration requests across Europe have risen sharply. A number of national authorities and producer responsibility organisations (PROs) are currently experiencing processing delays, compounded by the summer holiday period in several countries.

This update summarises the current situation country by country, so you know exactly what to expect. All information reflects the position as of 6 July 2026 and will be updated as authorities release further guidance.

Country-by-country status

Germany and France — Registrations are proceeding normally. Registration numbers are being issued within standard timeframes.

Italy — The Italian national registry for packaging EPR has not yet opened. According to Amazon’s official communication, sellers are not currently able to register, and the absence of a registration number does not affect your ability to sell and does not trigger any withholding or pay-on-behalf deductions. We will notify affected clients as soon as the official registration channel opens.

Spain — Packaging registrations are affected by extended apostille timelines together with the Spanish summer holiday period. Authorisation usually takes 1–2 months once documents are filed. The overall lead time depends on whether you already hold a Spanish VAT number and apostilled documents: with an existing VAT number and apostille in place, approximately 1–2 months; with an ES VAT number but no apostille, approximately 2–3 months; with neither, approximately 3–5 months.

Netherlands — The Dutch packaging PRO has officially confirmed that it is currently completing registrations for EU-established companies only. Registration procedures for non-EU companies are being reviewed and harmonised in coordination with e-commerce platforms, and new registration requests from non-EU companies are not being processed at this time. This is an authority-side suspension affecting all service providers equally. We will contact affected clients as soon as the PRO confirms its updated procedure.

Belgium — The Belgian packaging PRO has received an exceptionally high volume of registrations (more than 11,000 applications), which has placed significant strain on its internal systems. While system upgrades are under way, most clients are being issued temporary membership numbers first, with formal registration numbers to follow progressively. A temporary number confirms that your application has been accepted and is in process.

Poland — Registrations in Poland are currently very slow. The environmental authority is operating a rotating summer leave schedule from mid-June to late August, with limited staff processing new registrations against a backlog exceeding 15,000 applications. The authority processes applications in order of priority: Polish companies first, then EU companies, then companies established outside the EU. At the current pace, timelines of up to 5–6 months are possible.

Sweden — Applications submitted before 20 June 2026 are generally being processed within standard timelines. The Swedish authority has confirmed it will be closed for summer holidays from 13 July to 17 August, during which no new applications will be processed. Registrations submitted after this point should expect an additional delay of 1–2 months on current timelines.

Ireland — The Irish authority is currently processing applications submitted in early March, and progress remains slow due to a significant backlog.

What this means for you

The delays described above are objective, authority-side circumstances affecting the entire market — they are not specific to any individual application. If your registration is affected:

1. Your application remains valid and in the queue; no action is required to keep it active.
2. We are actively engaging with e-commerce marketplaces to seek alternative solutions for affected sellers who are unable to complete their packaging EPR registration before the deadline.
3. Where an authority issues interim documentation (such as Belgium’s temporary membership numbers), we will forward it to you as soon as it is available, as it can typically be used as evidence that registration is in progress.
4. We will proactively notify you of any change in your application status or in official guidance — you do not need to chase for updates.

Our commitment

We understand that registration deadlines and marketplace compliance requirements make these delays frustrating. Please be assured that every affected application is being monitored closely, and our local teams are in direct contact with the relevant authorities and PROs to progress registrations as quickly as circumstances allow.

If you have questions about your specific registration, please contact your account manager, who will be happy to provide the latest status.