The law, which has been in the works for some time, introduces completely new requirements for how products are packaged and shipped. Packaging size must be proportionate to the contents, and requirements for recyclable materials are tightened.
For companies selling their products to consumers within member states, a new everyday life with increased administration and reporting requirements awaits.
The regulation is the biggest change in product responsibility for packaging in almost 30 years and involves both harmonisation but above all change, said packaging expert Paul Cedwall earlier to Ehandel.se.
Challenges for smaller players
Although the rules come into effect today, preparations around the country have varied. Many smaller e-commerce companies have assumed that the new rules would only affect the very largest players in the market. However, this is not the case, as the regulation applies to all players regardless of sales volume.
In many cases, awareness is limited, especially among small and medium-sized e-commerce companies, said Paul Cedwall.
Even small e-commerce companies are covered by the regulation and producer responsibility. In practice, this means registration in each country of sale and reporting of packaging and fees, but also adapting the packaging to the requirements.
The trap of selling to Germany
One of the countries where supervision is expected to be most thorough is Germany. The country already has strict producer responsibility, and the new rules are added on top of the existing national requirements.
Swedish e-commerce companies selling in the German market are therefore faced with double requirements where registration must be done before the first product is shipped.
A common mistake is to start selling first and then look at compliance later. In Germany, it is important to first ensure that registrations and the like are in place before starting sales, Paul Cedwall emphasised.