LUCID registration 2026: the German packaging register explained

• What is LUCID?
• Who must register
• What you need
• Step by step
• LUCID is not enough
• Completeness declaration
• Transitional rules
• Authorized representative
• Amazon & eBay
• Fines
• Deadlines
• FAQ

Who must register in LUCID?

You must be registered in LUCID if you distribute packaged goods in Germany as the producer — typically because you sell packaged goods to German customers. Where your company is based does not matter.

• Online shops and marketplace sellers shipping packaged goods to customers in Germany.
• Brand owners: under the brand principle described by the ZSVR, a company whose name or brand appears on the packaging is treated as manufacturer and producer.
• Producers based outside Germany, including outside the EU — registration stays their own responsibility, even if they appoint an authorized representative.

LUCID registration step by step

LUCID registration is done online in the ZSVR portal and is free. The full compliance process has six steps:

1. Check producer status. Confirm that you are the producer for the packaging you place on the German market and whether you need an authorized representative.
2. Create your LUCID account in the portal at verpackungsregister.org.
3. Enter master data and brands. Add company data, all brand names and the packaging types you place on the market. Specify your authorized representative if required.
4. Receive your registration number. This is the 13-digit number Amazon asks for.
5. Join a dual system. Conclude a system participation contract for your packaging subject to system participation and license the expected quantities by material.
6. Report data and stay current. Report the quantities you license with your dual system in LUCID as well, keep your registration data up to date and file a completeness declaration if you exceed the thresholds.

Then enter your LUCID number in Amazon Seller Central and in eBay's EPR settings. Our Amazon EPR number guide shows which number Amazon needs for which country.

Completeness declaration 2026: thresholds and deadline

The completeness declaration (Vollständigkeitserklärung) for 2026 is due on Monday, 17 May 2027. The regular deadline, 15 May, falls on a Saturday in 2027. The declaration concerns producers above at least one of these thresholds:

For 2026 there is only one completeness declaration under § 10 VerpackDG, even though the law changed on 12 August 2026. The 2026 data is broken down according to the old VerpackG rules.

Do you need an authorized representative for LUCID?

Since 12 August 2026, § 5 VerpackDG requires an authorized representative only from producers without a German branch who sell directly to end users in Germany. Producers with a German branch, and producers that do not sell directly to end users in Germany, are not subject to this § 5 duty.

• Only one authorized representative may be appointed.
• The contract with the representative must be in German.
• The producer enters the representative in LUCID; the authorization becomes effective once the representative confirms it.
• The registration stays with the producer. According to the ZSVR, the representative takes on the extended producer responsibility obligations except registration.

Proposal – not yet law At EU level, the Environmental Omnibus (COM(2025) 982) proposes suspending the authorized-representative duty for EU-established producers. Council position of 21 October 2026: no representative for EU-established producers placing under 1 tonne per year in another member state, until 2032. The European Parliament adopted its position on 20 October 2026; trilogue follows. Not law; no relief for non-EU sellers. Details: authorized representative guide.

Fines under the VerpackDG

Under § 66 VerpackDG, fines reach up to €200,000, €100,000 or €10,000 depending on the offence. Fines for PPWR-related breaches (§ 66(2) VerpackDG) apply from 12 February 2027.

Which tier applies depends on the specific offence; the full list is in § 66 VerpackDG (linked below). Marketplaces may also deactivate or hide listings without a valid number.

How Certify helps with LUCID

1. Check: we review your products, packaging, brands and sales channels and tell you which German obligations apply.
2. Set up: we support your LUCID registration and dual-system participation and, if required, act as your authorized representative.
3. Maintain: we keep track of data reports, the completeness declaration and new deadlines.

Get your free LUCID check