New EU Packaging Requirements - Starts 12th August 2026
Summary: The discussion revolves around new EU packaging regulations requiring sellers to use recyclable packaging, register in each EU country, and hire a 'Responsible Person' for inquiries. 20thcenturyglass-shop mentions partnering with a company for compliance, which is costly, and seeks alternatives. jjambadger27 expresses skepticism about eBay's international shipping accommodating this. medealady raises concerns about private sellers and exclusion of certain regions due to these rules. gorragerritgone humorously questions the impact on personal shipments, highlighting the perceived complexity of the regulations.
I received an email from ebay about this on 6th June, and below are several links with more details.
In summary, what it boils down to is that all sellers to the EU, both business and private, have to:
Use fully recyclable packaging. This includes any packaging such as the box, envelope etc that you use to post both new and used goods.
Be registered in each EU country you sell to, with the relevant authority and obtain packaging registration numbers.
Hire a "Responsible Person" in the EU to deal with any enquiries.
Failure to obtain the registration numbers and add them to ebay, will result in listings being hidden from buyers in the relevant countries.
To facilitate this, ebay have partnered with a company called Lizenzero, who can provide these services.
The cost for this via Lizenzero (hope you are sitting down) is 300 Euros per year, for EACH EU country that you want to sell to.
Personally, my volume of sales to the EU cannot justify that expense. Has anyone found a more affordable alternative to comply with this new regulation? Or is this the last nail in the coffin for selling to the EU, for anyone other than high volume business sellers?
Useful links:
EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sellercentre/global-sales/packaging-and-packaging-waste-regulation
Understanding Extended Producer Responsibility on eBay
Packaging and Packaging Waste (from 2026)
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1779811940471&uri=LEGISSUM%3A4806724
Lizenzero - PPWR Compliance Made Easy
jjambadger27
·1 week agoRe that link, bzmotman...
You remain responsible for providing complete and accurate information reasonably required for such compliance and for any EPR obligations, fees or charges that remain your responsibility under applicable law, unless eBay expressly agrees otherwise.
gorragerritgone
·1 week agoThis is ridiculous. What will Mary next door do when she sends her sister Margaret, who lives in Germany, a Birthday present and a Christmas present. Off she goes to the post office with her little parcel and. at the counter, she is then told what? What a farce.
medealady
·1 week agoJust tried excluding EU (europe) on another account and it knocks out Jersey Guernsey, Switzerland, Malta and others. Short of attempting an individual exemption not sure how to do it. There isnt an 'exclude stupid EU' button. I also wonder if the populations in these regions realise how their purchasing options especially of collectables from ye olde Great Britain are being reduced by these rules.
bzmotman
·1 week agoYou can eliminate EU countries by going to account settings then postage preferences then Exclude Postage locations Edit then click on Europe & tick the countries you don't want to sell to. This is account level so it will apply to all listings. I have used this to exclude those EU countries where PDDP [to cover the new €3 fee on large letters] is not available.
medealady
·1 week agoI was hoping this was for business sellers only not private selling off their second hand stuff. My thought is how will they know what the inside packaging is? will they open every parcel? will reused sellotape stick (ok ok)
jjambadger27
·1 week agoWell, it was nice selling to the EU.
There's another thread about it here, with people wondering if the upcoming eBay International Shipping (eIS) will accommodate this. I doubt it... https://community.ebay.co.uk/forum/business-seller-board-12/topic/epr-is-back-12-aug-2026-deadline-49577/thread/213549/
bzmotman
·1 week agoThis link takes you to EIS Terms & Conditions
https://pages.ebay.co.uk/internationalshippingprogram/seller/terms/
If you go to section 2 Para 6 this covers EPR & much to my surprise it says that Ebay will act as authorised representative. What it doesn't state is whether your item will be visible to EU countries but logically it will be - I know dangerous to assume anything with Ebay.