Compliance · LUCID + WEEE + BattG
Germany
LUCID packaging registration before sale, WEEE and battery registration, 19% VAT and German-language labelling.
Key facts
| Currency | EUR |
|---|---|
| Packaging | LUCID registration and a dual-system contract before placing packaged goods on the market |
| WEEE | stiftung ear registration for electrical and electronic equipment |
| Batteries | BattG producer registration where batteries are supplied |
| VAT | 19% standard rate; no registration threshold for a non-established seller |
| Responsible person | EU-established person under GPSR |
| Last verified | 2026-10-17 |
Packaging registration comes before the first parcel
The Verpackungsgesetz requires a producer to register with LUCID before packaged goods are placed on the German market, then to license the packaging volume through a dual system. The registration number is part of the evidence that marketplaces and distributors ask for, and selling without it is a common cause of a listing being taken down.
Registration is not the same as licensing. A seller can hold a LUCID number and still be non-compliant because the packaging volumes were never reported or the system contract lapsed. Reconcile the reported volume with actual shipments at least annually.
Three producer registers, not one
Germany separates packaging, electrical equipment and batteries. A single product can therefore need LUCID, a stiftung ear WEEE registration and a BattG battery registration, each with its own number and reporting cycle. A seller who only registers the packaging is visible in one register and missing from the other two.
German market surveillance is active on online listings, and competitors use the registers as a source of complaints. Missing registration is easy to detect because the registers are public. The compliance checker lists the recurring obligations and the authorities to check.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need LUCID if my product is not packaged?
The obligation follows the packaging that reaches the final consumer. If there is consumer packaging, assume it applies until the specific material and channel are confirmed as exempt.
Does an EU responsible person established in another member state satisfy GPSR for Germany?
GPSR requires a responsible person established in the EU, not necessarily in Germany. German product-specific rules can still add local requirements, so check the category regulation as well.
Is there a German VAT registration threshold for a foreign seller?
A non-established seller generally has no domestic small-business threshold and must register once it makes taxable supplies in Germany. IOSS can cover low-value B2C imports without a full German registration.
Ask a compliance question
Free first answer by email. Tell us the destination, the product and the channel — we will point you to the rule and the official source. No obligation, no sales sequence.