Direct answer: a French EPR number is the Unique Identifier (IDU) issued by the French environmental agency (ADEME) to any producer subject to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR / « REP » in French). You need one to sell packaged goods, electronics (WEEE) or battery-powered products in France. Marketplaces such as Amazon.fr and Cdiscount check this number and suspend listings without a valid one. You don't request it from ADEME directly: you register with an approved éco-organisme, which issues your number. A producer based outside France must appoint an authorised representative (mandataire) established in France to hold these obligations.
Get your EPR number with an authorised representative →In France, "EPR number" refers to the Identifiant Unique (IDU) — a unique registration number recorded in ADEME's national producer register (SYDEREP). It proves you are registered under the relevant EPR scheme. It is the number marketplaces ask for when they verify environmental compliance. One producer may need registration across several schemes (packaging, WEEE, batteries), each with its own obligations.
You are a "producer" — and need to register — if you place products on the French market for the first time, whether you are a manufacturer, an importer, or a distance/online seller. This applies to:
| Scheme | Status in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Household packaging | In force |
| Electrical & electronic equipment (WEEE / DEEE) | In force |
| Batteries (EU Regulation 2023/1542) | In force |
| Professional packaging (EPRO) | Postponed — no official start date yet |
Selling from outside the EU does not exempt you — on the contrary, it triggers the requirement to appoint an authorised representative in France.
French law makes marketplaces co-responsible for their sellers' EPR compliance. In practice, Amazon.fr, Cdiscount and others collect and verify your EPR number and can deactivate your offers until a valid number is provided. For a cross-border seller, an EPR number is therefore not just a legal formality — it is what keeps your sales switched on.
Talk to us about your French EPR number →Yes. In France the EPR number is the Identifiant Unique (IDU), issued via your éco-organisme and registered with ADEME. Marketplaces refer to it as your EPR registration number.
Yes. Selling on a marketplace to French customers makes you a producer under French EPR law. Amazon requires a valid EPR number and can suspend your listings without one.
No. Producers not established in France must appoint an authorised representative (mandataire) established in France, who obtains and manages your EPR registrations on your behalf.
One registration per applicable scheme. A seller of electronics in boxes may need registrations for WEEE, batteries and packaging — each with its own identifier and declarations.
Registration is handled by your éco-organisme (or your authorised representative) and typically takes a few weeks. Timelines are indicative and depend on the scheme.
You pay an eco-contribution based on the materials/volumes you place on the market, per each scheme's published rates. We do not display unsourced figures here.