LUCID for Shopify and WooCommerce shops shipping to Germany

Why it applies to your own shop

In Germany the duty sits with the producer: for online sales, the company that ships packaged goods to the end user. When your Shopify or WooCommerce shop ships to a customer in Germany, that is you. There is no minimum quantity, and the shop software makes no difference.

No marketplace check doesn't mean no check

• The register is public. The ZSVR publishes the names of registered producers, so customers, competitors and authorities can look you up.
• Fulfilment providers must check. If a warehouse or fulfilment service ships for you, German law forbids it to handle goods of producers that aren't properly registered.
• Sales ban and fines. Packaging from unregistered producers may not be placed on the German market, and the law provides for fines. See German packaging law explained.

What to do, in order

1. Based outside Germany? Start with an authorised representative. You need one to complete the LUCID registration. See authorised representative.
2. Register in LUCID with your company's exact legal data.
3. Estimate your packaging by material. Your order export (orders shipped to Germany per year) and one weighed sample parcel are enough for a first estimate.
4. Sign a dual-system contract, through your representative if you have one. See the dual system.
5. Report the same quantities in LUCID and keep both in sync.

Typical packaging of a small own-brand shop

• Branded boxes or mailers: your brand on them usually makes you the producer of that packaging.
• Tissue paper, filler, cards and stickers that protect or present the product: usually packaging too.
• Product packaging from your supplier: if you are the one who sells it into Germany, it is normally part of what you license.

Selling to other EU countries from the same shop

Shopify Markets or a WooCommerce shipping zone can open a new country in one click. The packaging duties come with it: Austria, for example, requires an authorised representative for foreign online sellers, and France has its own schemes. See Austria and other EU countries.

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.