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WEEE registration in Germany 2026: stiftung ear step by step
Anyone who places electrical or electronic equipment on the German market must register with stiftung ear first — per brand and per device type. B2C equipment additionally needs an insolvency-proof financial guarantee, and producers without a German establishment register through an authorized representative. Here is how EAR registration works, what it officially costs and what Amazon checks.
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WEEE in Germany at a glance
- Register
- stiftung ear (Elektro-Altgeräte Register), under the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG)
- When
- Before the equipment is placed on the German market
- Scope of registration
- Per brand and per device type
- Financial guarantee
- Insolvency-proof guarantee required for B2C equipment
- Authorized representative
- Required for producers without an establishment in Germany
- Official fees (net)
- €9.50 per device type for registration, €32.80 per quarter, plus guarantee check and, if applicable, authorized-representative confirmation
- Processing time
- Varies — plan several weeks for the financial guarantee
- Ongoing duties
- Marking with the crossed-out wheelie bin, quantity reports to stiftung ear, take-back
- Marketplaces
- Amazon asks for the stiftung ear registration number for electrical and electronic equipment
What is WEEE registration in Germany?
WEEE registration in Germany is the registration of a producer of electrical and electronic equipment with stiftung ear. WEEE stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. Germany implements the EU WEEE Directive through the ElektroG, and stiftung ear acts as the national register. After registration you receive a WEEE registration number — often called the "EAR number" — which marketplaces ask for.
WEEE registration is one of three separate German EPR registrations. Packaging is registered in LUCID at the ZSVR (LUCID registration), and batteries are also registered with stiftung ear, but under battery law (battery registration). An electronics seller typically needs all three. Overview: EPR number explained.
Who must register with stiftung ear?
You must register if you are the producer of electrical or electronic equipment placed on the German market. In practice this concerns:
- Brand owners who sell equipment under their own name or brand in Germany.
- Importers who are the first to place equipment from abroad on the German market.
- Online sellers outside Germany who sell equipment directly to German customers, including via Amazon or eBay — they register through an authorized representative.
"Electrical equipment" is broad: anything that depends on electric current to work, from chargers, cables and LED lights to toys with electronics, power tools and household appliances. If you are unsure whether a product is in scope, ask before you list it — the free check covers this question.
Registration per brand and device type
stiftung ear registers each combination of brand and device type separately. One company can therefore hold several registrations. The registration fee of €9.50 is charged per device type.
| Example portfolio | Registrations needed |
|---|---|
| One brand, one device type (e.g. USB chargers) | 1 registration |
| One brand, chargers and LED lamps | 2 registrations (one per device type) |
| Two brands, each with chargers | 2 registrations (one per brand) |
| New brand added later | Additional registration before the first unit of the new brand is sold |
Device types are defined by stiftung ear; the classification also decides whether the equipment counts as B2C or B2B.
The financial guarantee for B2C equipment
Equipment that can be used in private households (B2C) needs an insolvency-proof financial guarantee before registration. The guarantee secures the cost of taking back and treating the equipment if the producer is no longer on the market.
- Collective guarantee: you join a guarantee system. stiftung ear charges €3.80 for checking the guarantee amount.
- Individual guarantee: for example a bank guarantee or surety. stiftung ear charges €156.90 for checking an individual guarantee.
- B2B-only equipment: no guarantee, but the exclusively commercial use must be demonstrated credibly (stiftung ear fee: €18.90).
Timing: processing times vary. Plan several weeks for the financial guarantee and do not start selling a new device type or brand until stiftung ear has confirmed the registration.
Authorized representative for producers without a German establishment
Producers without an establishment in Germany must appoint an authorized representative (Bevollmächtigter) for WEEE. This applies to sellers from other EU countries as well as from outside the EU. The representative carries out the registration and the ElektroG duties on the producer's behalf. stiftung ear charges €50.60 for each confirmation of an authorized representative.
The WEEE representative is separate from the packaging representative under § 5 VerpackDG, which is only required for producers without a German branch selling directly to end users. Certify offers the authorized representative service for both.
Official stiftung ear fees (ElektroG)
stiftung ear charges these official fees for WEEE registration; all amounts are net, plus VAT.
| Fee | Amount (net) | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Registration fee | €9.50 | Per device type |
| Quarterly fee | €32.80 | Per quarter (€131.20 per year) |
| Guarantee amount check (collective) | €3.80 | With a collective guarantee |
| Individual guarantee check | €156.90 | With an individual guarantee |
| Credible demonstration of B2B use | €18.90 | B2B-only equipment |
| Authorized-representative confirmation | €50.60 | Per represented company |
These are the register's official fees only. The cost of the guarantee itself, take-back and recycling, and any external service come on top.
EAR registration step by step
WEEE registration with stiftung ear follows six steps:
- List your products. Collect all brands and assign each product to a stiftung ear device type; decide B2C or B2B.
- Appoint a representative if needed. Without a German establishment, contract an authorized representative first.
- Arrange the guarantee. For B2C equipment, join a collective guarantee system or provide an individual guarantee.
- Apply in the stiftung ear portal. Submit one registration per brand and device type with your company data and guarantee proof.
- Receive your WEEE registration number. Enter it in Amazon Seller Central and your other sales channels.
- Mark, report and take back. Mark the equipment, report quantities to stiftung ear and fulfil take-back duties.
Marking and reporting after registration
Registration is only the start: registered producers must mark their equipment and report quantities to stiftung ear.
- Crossed-out wheelie bin: equipment must carry the symbol of a crossed-out wheeled bin, which tells users not to dispose of it with household waste.
- Monthly quantity reports: under § 27 ElektroG, the quantities of each device type placed on the market are reported, as a rule, by the 15th of the following month.
- Annual reports: further data, such as exports and take-back quantities, is due by 30 April of the following year.
- Keep registrations current: new brands or device types need their own registration before sale.
Amazon checks your EAR number
For electrical and electronic equipment sold in Germany, Amazon asks for the stiftung ear registration number in addition to the 13-digit LUCID number for packaging. According to Amazon, non-compliant offers may be deactivated, or Amazon may comply on the seller's behalf. Marketplace services do not replace your own registration.
Deadlines for electronics sellers in Germany
WEEE registration has no fixed calendar date: it is due before the first unit is placed on the market. These dates also matter for electronics sellers:
| Date | What happens | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Before first sale | Registration per brand and device type; guarantee for B2C equipment | WEEE (ElektroG) |
| 15th of each month | Quantity report for the previous month | WEEE (§ 27 ElektroG) |
| 12 Nov 2026 | Changes to LUCID registration data must be made | Packaging (§ 68 VerpackDG) |
| 31 Dec 2026 | Old dual-system participations end at the latest | Packaging (§ 68 VerpackDG) |
| 18 Feb 2027 | QR code and removability rules start under the EU Battery Regulation | Batteries |
| 30 Apr 2027 | Annual WEEE reports for 2026 | WEEE (§ 27 ElektroG) |
| 17 May 2027 | Packaging completeness declaration 2026 | Packaging (§ 10 VerpackDG) |
All EU dates: EPR deadline calendar · Germany overview: EPR in Germany 2026.
How Certify helps with WEEE registration
- Check: we classify your products by brand and device type and clarify B2C or B2B.
- Register: we prepare the stiftung ear registration, the guarantee and, if you have no German establishment, act as your authorized representative.
- Maintain: we keep track of quantity reports, new device types and deadlines.
WEEE registration Germany FAQ
Who registers WEEE producers in Germany?
stiftung ear registers producers of electrical and electronic equipment under the ElektroG. Registration is required per brand and device type before the equipment is placed on the German market.
What does WEEE registration cost at stiftung ear?
stiftung ear charges official fees, net plus VAT: €9.50 registration fee per device type, a quarterly fee of €32.80, €3.80 for checking a collective guarantee or €156.90 for an individual guarantee, and €50.60 for confirming an authorized representative. Costs of the guarantee itself, take-back and external support come on top.
How long does EAR registration take?
Processing times vary. Plan several weeks for the financial guarantee, which B2C equipment needs before registration, and do not start selling until the registration is confirmed.
Do I need an authorized representative for WEEE in Germany?
Yes, if your company has no establishment in Germany. Producers without a German establishment register with stiftung ear through an authorized representative (Bevollmächtigter).
Do I need a financial guarantee?
Yes, for equipment that can be used in private households (B2C). The ElektroG requires an insolvency-proof guarantee for this equipment. Equipment used exclusively by businesses (B2B) needs no guarantee; instead the B2B use must be demonstrated credibly.
Does Amazon check my WEEE registration number?
Yes. For electrical and electronic equipment sold in Germany, Amazon asks for the stiftung ear registration number in addition to the LUCID number. Listings without valid numbers may be deactivated.
What do I have to report after registration?
Producers report the quantities of each device type placed on the market to stiftung ear, as a rule monthly by the 15th of the following month. Further data, for example exports and take-back, is reported annually by 30 April of the following year.
- stiftung ear – official register for electrical equipment and batteries
- stiftung ear – costs and fees
- § 27 ElektroG – producers' reporting duties (gesetze-im-internet.de)
- Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) – EUR-Lex
- Amazon.de – Extended producer responsibility
- § 68 VerpackDG – transitional provisions (packaging)
This page is general information, not legal advice. Last reviewed 27 October 2026.
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