What exactly must be stated or recognisable on the packaging?

Since 12 August 2026, Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR) requires four pieces of information on packaging placed on the EU internal market for the first time:

1. Company name or trade mark — full company name or trade mark of the producer, importer or authorised representative.

2. Postal address — full contact address of the responsible party.

3. Unique packaging identifier — a unique identifier, e.g. a GTIN/EAN number. The format will be specified by the Commission through delegated acts.

4. Electronic means of contact — website URL or e-mail address; a telephone number alone is not sufficient.

These four items can be printed statically or applied as a label — no digital infrastructure is required.

What is not yet mandatory: Harmonised material codes, recyclability labelling, recycled content declarations and a mandatory QR code are not yet in force. They depend on delegated acts of the European Commission that are still pending: - Harmonised sorting pictograms (Art. 12): expected from 12 August 2028 - Material labelling, QR code obligation: at the earliest from 2028, subject to delegated acts

For a legally binding assessment of the specific obligations applicable to your product range, please contact your local Chamber of Commerce and Industry or a lawyer specialising in packaging law.