Extended Producer Responsibility - Austria
- Emily Longstaff
What is it?
Merchants who sell with Fruugo in Austria are required to provide proof of their compliance with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation for Packaging, Batteries and Electrical Appliances (EEE). This legislation covers both primary (product) and secondary (shipping) packaging.
EPR is a legal requirement for marketplaces and producers to ensure that they are meeting their obligations. If you do not provide proof of your compliance, your products will not be listed for sale in Austria.
For more information on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Austria, please visit https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=20008902 regarding the Austrian Packaging Law, https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=20005815 regarding Austrian Battery law, https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=20004052 regarding Austrian EEE law and https://www.vks-gmbh.at/ / Startseite | Elektroaltgeräte Koordinierungsstelle Austria GmbH regarding producer registration for Packaging and Batteries/EEE.
What do I have to do?
Unlike for the EPR systems in other countries, Fruugo does not require you to provide us with ID/PRO Numbers for Austrian EPR compliance.
However, if Austrian EPR requirements apply to your business, it is important that you maintain your own compliance documents and records to show that this is being complied with. It is part of your contractual obligations in the Retailer Terms & Conditions that you comply with the relevant EPR requirements and Fruugo may request documentation at any time to ensure that you are compliant. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in your store being escalated to our Account Management Team and disciplining, which could include permanent removal from the platform.
In addition to the information on Austrian EPR you can review via the above links, please find below outline of the steps that you will need to take in order to become compliant with the relevant EPR legislations.
Packaging:
Register with an approved collection and recovery system – you will find a list of approved systems for packaging here: https://www.bmk.gv.at/themen/klima_umwelt/abfall/Kreislaufwirtschaft/verpackungen/sammeln_verwerten/liste.html
Appoint an Authorised Representative if your business is based OUTSIDE Austria
Submit packaging quantity reports – these must be submitted monthly, quarterly or annually depending on the size of the business and pay the corresponding fees.
Batteries:
Register with an approved collection and recovery system – you will find a list of approved systems for batteries here: https://www.bmk.gv.at/themen/klima_umwelt/abfall/Kreislaufwirtschaft/elektroaltgeraete/batterien.html
Non-Austrian distance sellers are also required to participate in a take-back system
Appoint an Authorised Representative if your business is based OUTSIDE Austria
Submit a report on the amount of automotive, industrial and portable batteries and accumulators you placed on the Austrian market each quarter, within 7 weeks of the end of each quarter via the Electronic Data Management system
EEE:
Register with an approved collection and recovery system – you will find a list of approved systems for EEE here: https://secure.umweltbundesamt.at/eras/registerabfrageEAGSystemeSearch.do;jsessionid=BD4EE89302DFF179AC2D9DC1286F88C7.erasnode02?wfjs_enabled=true
Appoint an Authorised Representative if your business is based OUTSIDE Austria
Report a report on the amount of EEE collected, recycled and exported per collect and processing category to the coordinating agency annually.
For further guidance regarding any of the aforementioned steps or categories, we would recommend that you contact one of the approved systems providers to discuss your requirements.