With effect from July 2012, German Industry & Commerce Ltd. was appointed as the official Landbell AG representative in Greater China, thus providing exporters in the region with all services necessary to comply with licensing requirements for the proper disposal of packaging materials and other products in accordance with the provisions of the German Packaging Ordinance.

According to the Fifth Amending Ordinance in 2009, all transport and sales packaging materials, goods under the European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) and products which are made of the same substance as packaging materials but not packaging as such (typically toys made of plastic), brought into circulation in the German market, are subject to a licensing requirement for the proper disposal of the same.

Manufacturers and exporters are either directly or indirectly affected by this regulation, non-compliance carries heavy penalties of up to €50,000 per offence. If it is a CIF shipment, it is the shipper’s responsibility to arrange for the license. In case of FOB, it is the importers duty. Shippers still can be affected, however, even in such cases where it is their buyers responsibility to take care of the licensing. The same applies for foreign companies who, through direct marketing (e. g. Internet trading) send goods directly to private end consumers in Germany. In the past shipments have been rejected by German customs authorities, if they were not properly licensed, therefore causing a disruption in the supply chain.
To achieve compliance, exporters should work with a German dual system provider who will guarantee the seamless use of Green Dot's collection and recovery system in Germany. Companies will be required to pay a charge based on the types and amount of packaging material used. Documented proof that the recycling quotas laid down by law have been fulfilled is guaranteed by independent environmental and recycling specialists. The greater goal is to ensure the recovery of sales packaging which contributes some 40% to the total volume of municipal solid waste in average, 60% of which is plastic packaging.

Contact us as soon as possible to enquire about German sales packaging licensing and to ensure successful product circulation in Germany.