The European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC serves as the basis for packaging waste recycling legislation in EU member states. In Germany, the implementation of this directive is regulated by the German Packaging Act (VerpackG). Since January 2019, not only producers and stationary trade, but also online and marketplace sellers are required to license their packaging in Germany and adhere to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This includes foreign sellers who import packaging into Germany for direct delivery to end consumers. The licensing of packaging is overseen by dual systems, which are financed by license fees and handle the collection, sorting, and recycling of packaging waste. The Packaging Act aims to promote recycling and conserve resources by ensuring that packaging is returned to the recycling loop.
Source 1stopvat
