A LUCID number is critical for businesses that distribute packaged goods in Germany. The Central Agency Packaging Register (Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister or ZSVR) issued the LUCID number as part of the German Packaging Act (VerpackG), which came into effect on January 1, 2019.
This act mandates that all producers and initial distributors of packaging filled with goods and placed on the German market must register with the LUCID Packaging Register.
This requirement aims to enhance packaging waste management, increase recycling rates, and adhere to the principle of 'extended producer responsibility' (EPR), in which the producer is responsible for recycling their product packaging.
How To Sell Products in Germany
A boutique or retail business seeking to sell packaged goods in Germany must understand the importance of the LUCID number.
Registration within the LUCID Packaging Register is mandatory, regardless of the company's size or the packaging volume. This requirement applies to local German businesses and foreign online retailers intending to sell to German customers.
Importers bringing packaged goods into Germany, final distributors of service packaging, and marketplaces such as Amazon or eBay that allow retailers to operate on their platforms must ensure that these retailers have a LUCID number.
The types of packaging that require registration encompass a wide range, including retail, grouped, shipment, transport, industrial, single-use, packaging subject to deposit, and reusable packaging. Additionally, service packaging such as bakery bags, carrier bags, and takeaway coffee cups must be registered.
How To Obtain a LUCID number
A boutique or retail business must follow these steps:
- Create an Account: Register on the LUCID Packaging Register website by providing your company's master data, which includes the name, address, and contact information.
- Provide Packaging Details: Indicate the types of packaging used and the brand names under which products are sold.
- System Participation: If the packaging is subject to system participation, the business must license its packaging by paying fees to a dual system operator. The dual system is a privatized waste management system that collects, sorts, and recycles packaging waste from private households.
- Submit a Declaration of Completeness: Companies may need to submit a declaration of completeness based on the annual volume of packaging.
- Ongoing Compliance: Maintain ongoing compliance by regularly updating information, participating in the dual system if required, and submitting necessary reports.
Registering for a LUCID number is free
However, depending on the amount and type of packaging, businesses might incur costs related to waste licensing charges. Once the registration process is completed, companies will receive their LUCID registration number, which can be used for compliance verification.
Failure to comply with the Packaging Act by not registering or not participating in the dual system can lead to severe consequences, including fines and a distribution ban on packaged goods in Germany. For online sellers, especially those operating through marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, obtaining a LUCID number is vital for continued operations.
