PPWR in France: Packaging EPR, Producer Register, Authority and National Rules

Packaging EPR in France runs through approved éco-organismes and the ADEME register SYDEREP, which issues every producer an identifiant unique (IDU), while the PPWR has applied directly since 12 August 2026. The Direction générale de la prévention des risques (DGPR) is the competent authority, and the French government decided on 4 September 2026 against a mandatory national deposit.

The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) applies directly in France beside the national EPR rules. This page covers the national laws, the producer, SYDEREP, the authorised representative, the éco-organismes, declarations, the consigne, other rules, authorities, fines and the dates to 2031.

Compiled by the PackagingRegulation.org Editorial Team from the Regulation's text on EUR-Lex and the cited official sources; see our methodology and fact-checking. As of 24 October 2026.

Five key facts apply as of 24 October 2026.

• Register: SYDEREP (ADEME), IDU mandatory since 1 January 2022.
• PRO model: approved éco-organismes or individual systems.
• Household éco-organismes: Citeo, Adelphe and Léko, approved 2025 to 2029.
• PPWR competent authority: the DGPR.
• Deposit: no mandatory national consigne, decision of 4 September 2026.

Which National Laws Govern Packaging EPR in France?

As of 24 October 2026, French packaging EPR rests on the Environmental Code as amended by the AGEC law (loi n° 2020-105 of 10 February 2020) and on décret n° 2025-1081, in force since 1 January 2026, beside the directly applicable PPWR. The AGEC law has applied since 12 February 2020 (JORF 11 February 2020), and its packaging articles are codified mainly in Articles L. 541-1 to L. 541-15-10 of the Environmental Code.

Décret n° 2025-1081 of 17 November 2025 (JORF 18 November 2025) institutes the professional-packaging EPR stream. Its Article 2 defines packaging, producer, composite packaging and packaging waste in Article R. 543-43 by reference to Article 3(1), points 1, 15, 24 and 25 of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (OJ L, 2025/40, 22.1.2025). Article L. 541-10-1 of the Environmental Code names two streams: household packaging (1°) and professional packaging (2°).

Who Is a Producer under Packaging EPR in France?

A producer in France is the manufacturer, importer or distributor that first makes packaging available on the French market, because R. 543-43 of the Environmental Code defines the producer by reference to Article 3(1), point (15) of the PPWR. An importer therefore counts as a producer, and EPR applies to imports. Three cases shape the French duties.

• Importers and distance sellers: a seller shipping packaged goods to French end users from abroad is a producer.
• Marketplaces: a marketplace is the producer for third-party sales unless it holds proof of the seller's IDU (Article L. 541-10-9), see online marketplaces under the PPWR.
• Household or professional: e-commerce transport packaging for household sales is household packaging, while pallets and other transport packaging are professional (arrêté of 2 December 2025, Article 1).

The EU rules on packaging EPR under the PPWR define the producer the same way in every member state.

Must Every Producer Register in SYDEREP and Hold an IDU?

Yes: every producer subject to packaging EPR in France has held an identifiant unique (IDU) from SYDEREP, the producer register operated by ADEME, since 1 January 2022 under Article L. 541-10-13 of the Environmental Code. SYDEREP is a register, not a producer responsibility organisation.

In collective schemes the éco-organisme registers the producer in SYDEREP, and individual self-registration is not possible. The IDU appears in the general terms of sale (CGV) or another contractual document (R. 541-173), and sellers give buyers their supplier's IDU on request (L. 541-10-10). As of 24 October 2026, missing registration, wrong data or an IDU not shown costs up to EUR 30,000 under Article L. 541-9-5. For the EU register, each member state keeps a national register under Article 44 PPWR, and the Article 44(14) format act, due 12 February 2026, is not adopted as of 24 October 2026.

When Does a Producer Need an EPR Authorised Representative in France?

Since 12 August 2026, a producer that sells packaged products directly to end users in France from another Member State or a third country must appoint an EPR authorised representative established in France, under Article 45(3) of the PPWR. Three points frame the role.

• First sentence of Article 45(3): the role is mandatory for producers under Article 3(1), point (15)(c) and (d), supplying end users directly.
• Second sentence of Article 45(3): a Member State option for further cases.
• Article 17 is a different role: the product-compliance authorised representative, optional and established in the Union.

COM(2025) 982 would suspend Article 45(3) but is only proposed, so the duty applies. The mandate and the proposal are explained under authorised representative for EPR under the PPWR.

Which Approved Éco-organismes Run Packaging EPR in France?

French producers meet packaging EPR collectively through an approved éco-organisme (approved producer responsibility organisation) or through an approved individual system, and for household packaging Citeo, Adelphe and Léko hold approvals from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2029. Membership of a producer responsibility organisation is optional at EU level (Article 46(1) PPWR), and the French cahier des charges is the arrêté of 7 December 2023. Household packaging merged with graphic papers (EMPAP) on 1 January 2024; in 2023 EMPAP placed 6.56 Mt on the market, recycled 5.08 Mt and paid EUR 855 million to local authorities, according to ADEME.

Which duties apply to professional packaging?

Packaging of products used by professionals forms its own EPR stream under Article L. 541-10-1, 2° of the Environmental Code, with décret n° 2025-1081 and two arrêtés of 2 December 2025 in force since 1 January 2026. Citeo Pro, Léko Pro and Twiice are approved until 31 December 2031 by the arrêtés of 3 June 2026. Scope, allocation rules and individual systems are covered under REP emballages professionnels (EPRO).

Which Declarations and Fees Are Due Each Year?

French producers declare the household packaging they placed on the market to their éco-organisme each year, and Citeo members file between 1 January and 28 February of the following year. Contributions follow eco-modulation under Article L. 541-10-3, and the EU fee rules are covered under EPR fees and eco-modulation under the PPWR.

Does France Have a Deposit Return System for Bottles?

No: on 4 September 2026 the French government decided that no mandatory national deposit (consigne) will be set up and proposed a voluntary territorialised consigne instead, which is not law. The Environmental Code sets national objectives in Article L. 541-10-11: 77 % collection for recycling in 2025 and 90 % in 2029, and 50 % fewer single-use plastic bottles by 2030.

The ministry gave a 2024 recycling rate of 58.3 % for plastic bottles, a recycling rate and not a separate collection rate. The EU rule for deposit return systems under the PPWR requires Member States to ensure such systems by 1 January 2029, with 90 % separate collection (Article 50(1)), unless 80 % or more was collected separately in calendar year 2026 and a request with an implementation plan follows by 1 January 2028 (Article 50(5)).

Which Other National Packaging Rules Apply in France?

Besides EPR, France keeps a national sorting label and the AGEC packaging duties on reuse and single-use plastics.

Must household packaging carry the Triman sorting label?

Yes: household packaging subject to EPR carries the Triman logo and Info-tri sorting instructions, mandatory since 1 January 2022 under Article L. 541-9-3 of the Environmental Code and décret n° 2021-835, with household glass beverage packaging excluded. The Commission's non-binding Notice C/2026/3084 (OJ C, 10.6.2026) records that Triman remains mandatory nationally, and Case C-249/26 Commission v France is pending. Formats, exemptions and the court case are covered under Triman and Info-tri sorting label rules.

Which AGEC duties apply to packaging producers?

The AGEC law sets a reuse quota of 10 % reused or reusable packaging in 2027 for producers placing at least 10,000 units of packaged products a year (D. 541-352, décret n° 2022-507), and objectives such as the end of single-use plastic packaging by 2040 (L. 541-10-17). The quota steps by turnover and the plastic bans are covered under AGEC law and packaging.

Which Authorities Enforce Packaging Law in France, and What Are the Fines?

The Direction générale de la prévention des risques (DGPR) of the Ministère de la Transition écologique is the competent authority for the PPWR in France, as named by French customs on 10 August 2026. ADEME operates SYDEREP, and customs (DGDDI) is not a PPWR market surveillance authority, though it may suspend release for free circulation for checks.

Fines for EPR breaches follow Article L. 541-9-5 and Triman breaches Article L. 541-9-4. The PPWR sets no amount: Article 68(1) requires Member States to lay down penalties by 12 February 2027, and other states' penalty rules follow under PPWR penalties and market surveillance.

Importers checking French packaging should read the PPWR compliance obligations of importers.

What Are the French Packaging Deadlines from 2026 to 2031?

The French dates run from the EPRO texts of 1 January 2026 to the end of the professional-packaging approvals on 31 December 2031.

The EU dates behind these French deadlines are listed with every PPWR application date and deadline.

How Does France Compare with Other Member States under the PPWR?

France runs household packaging EPR through approved éco-organismes and SYDEREP, while Germany registers producers in LUCID and requires system participation with dual systems. Registers, PRO models and deposit systems are compared for the PPWR in the 27 member states. The German register, dual systems and deposit are covered in PPWR in Germany.

France generated 173.1 kg of packaging waste per inhabitant in 2024 (195.49 kg in 2018), according to Eurostat. Its packaging recycling rate was 68.4 % in 2024, and its plastic packaging rate 27.4 %; all states are compared in EU packaging waste statistics. French rules on environmental claims on packaging are covered on greenwashingdirective.com.

Is SYDEREP registration enough for PPWR compliance in France?

No: the IDU covers EPR only, while the PPWR product requirements, conformity assessment and labelling apply in addition. The full list of operator duties is in PPWR compliance.

Is the EPR authorised representative duty suspended by the EU omnibus proposal?

No: as of 24 October 2026 Article 45(3) applies, because COM(2025) 982 is only proposed; the European Parliament voted amendments and referred the file back to committee on 20 October 2026. Nothing is suspended.

What changed for packaging in France in 2026?

In 2026 décret n° 2025-1081 tied the French producer definition to the PPWR from 1 January, the PPWR began to apply on 12 August, and the government ruled out a mandatory national consigne on 4 September. The EU side is covered under PPWR since 12 August 2026.