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Guide · Austria

Austria: packaging EPR for foreign online sellers

For shops that sell in German, Austria is often the next country after Germany. Its packaging rules are separate, and since 2023 they include a mandatory representative for foreign online sellers.

Facts checked:

Who is obliged

Companies without a registered office in Austria that ship packaged goods directly to private end consumers in Austria: online shops, marketplace sellers, dropshippers. It doesn't matter whether you are based in the EU or outside it.

The authorised representative (since 1 January 2023)

Since 1 January 2023, amendments to Austria's Waste Management Act (AWG) and Packaging Ordinance (VerpackVO) require foreign distance sellers to appoint an authorised representative based in Austria. The representative takes over your packaging-law obligations in Austria and is liable for them.

  • The representative needs a registered office and a postal address in Austria. A branch office doesn't qualify.
  • The appointment is a power of attorney in German or English, with a notarised signature.
  • You and the representative are both registered on the government's EDM platform.

Licensing with a collection and recovery system

Household packaging, including shipping packaging that reaches consumers, must be licensed with an approved collection and recovery system (Sammel- und Verwertungssystem), for example ARA. For foreign distance sellers, the licence runs through the representative.

Thresholds and reporting

  • No small-quantity exemption, according to Austrian scheme providers. Some offer simplified flat-rate options for small quantities.
  • Reporting is annual, quarterly or monthly, depending on your contract and the size of your fees.

Germany and Austria are separate

A German LUCID registration and dual-system licence don't cover parcels to Austria, and an Austrian licence doesn't cover Germany. Selling to both means two representatives, two licences and two sets of reports. See LUCID for foreign sellers.

Austria is adapting its rules to the EU's PPWR, which has applied since 12 August 2026. We check the current status for your case before quoting.

Pilot. We're launching, and we are going through our own shop's packaging registration right now. One country costs €249 one-time + €19 / month; the first 20 clients keep these prices for 12 months. Scheme fees are paid separately. Ask us to check your case.

Questions

I only sell a few items to Austria. Do I still need a representative?

Austrian scheme providers state that there is no small-quantity exemption for foreign sellers shipping to consumers. Simplified flat-rate options exist for small quantities.

What if I only sell to businesses in Austria?

The representative rule targets sales to private end consumers. If you supply only businesses, other duties apply; for example, you may have to tell your customers that the packaging isn't licensed. We check this case by case.

Can my German representative also act for Austria?

Only if they meet the Austrian requirements, including a registered office in Austria. In practice, Germany and Austria are usually two separate appointments.

Sources

Not sure where you stand?

Tell us what you sell and where you ship. We'll tell you what applies, even when the answer is "nothing".

Ask us to check