WEEE
Directive 2012/19/EU — Waste electrical and electronic equipment (recast)
Topic : Circularity & waste · Level : Regional
Today
In force, amended by Dir. 2024/884. WEEE revision to come in the Circular Economy Act, due before end 2026.
Summary
The WEEE Directive makes producers finance the collection and recycling of electrical and electronic waste. A revision is expected with the Circular Economy Act announced for late 2026.
Who is concerned
- Turnover
- non précisé
- Employees
- non précisé
- Listed company
- non précisé
- Sectors
- Electrical/electronic equip.
- Solar PV panels
- Lighting
- Triggering activities
- Placing EEE on a Member State market
- Selling EEE online to EU end users
- Rebranding EEE under own name
- Extraterritorial reach
- Yes
Non-EU sellers to EU users must appoint an authorised representative and join national EPR schemes.
- Examples
- Chinese e-commerce seller of small appliances
- EU importer of PV panels
- Laptop brand selling across the EU
What the law requires
- Register as producer in each Member State where EEE is sold
- Finance collection and treatment through a compliance scheme
- Mark products with the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol
- Report quantities placed on the market
Penalties
Set by Member States; fines and de-listing from online marketplaces for unregistered producers.
What this changes for a supplier in China
Chinese brands selling direct to EU consumers must register and pay EPR fees in each country. Platforms block unregistered sellers.
Expected evidence
- National WEEE registration numbers
- Authorised representative contract
- Annual quantities by EEE category
Tiers : Tier 1