France Has Its Own EPR Rules — and Marketplaces Are Watching
If you sell packaged goods on the French market — whether through Amazon.fr, Cdiscount, your own e-shop, or any other channel — you are legally required to register for packaging EPR in France. This is not optional. Without a valid IDU number (Identifiant Unique), your listings can be suspended and you risk penalties.
Amazon and other marketplaces already require sellers to upload their French EPR registration numbers. Since 2023, they actively verify compliance and can block non-compliant sellers from selling in France entirely.
It doesn't matter if your company is based in the Czech Republic, Germany, or anywhere else. If your products reach French consumers, you must be registered. No minimum threshold — even a single shipment triggers the obligation.
The Key Players: Citeo, IDU, SYDEREP
France's packaging EPR system revolves around a few key institutions and concepts. Here's what you need to know:
| Term | What it is |
|---|---|
| Citeo | The main PRO (Producer Responsibility Organization) for packaging in France. Formerly known as Eco-Emballages. You register with Citeo and pay eco-contributions through them. |
| IDU Number | Identifiant Unique — your unique registration number assigned by ADEME (the French environmental agency) via the SYDEREP register. This is the number you upload to Amazon and other marketplaces. |
| SYDEREP | The national register of producers managed by ADEME. When you sign a contract with Citeo, they handle your SYDEREP registration — you don't need to do it separately. |
| Eco-contribution | An annual fee paid to Citeo based on the weight and type of packaging you place on the French market. The minimum flat fee is €80/year for small sellers (under 10,000 consumer sales units). |
| Triman Logo | A mandatory sorting symbol that must appear on all packaging sold in France, accompanied by sorting instructions (Info-tri). Required since January 1, 2025. |
Unlike Germany where you must pay for a LUCID registration and a licensing contract separately, Citeo registration is free. You only pay the eco-contribution — and for most e-commerce sellers with fewer than 10,000 units sold in France, that's just €80 per year. No forecast payments, no quarterly advances (unless your contribution exceeds €5,000).
Why You Shouldn't Do This Yourself
France's packaging EPR looks simple on paper — register with Citeo, get an IDU, upload it to Amazon. But from our experience of registering dozens of companies, the reality is different:
- The Citeo registration form is entirely in French, with questions that can be easily misunderstood — for example, a wrong answer to a single question about your business model can result in your company being classified as a marketplace, which changes the entire contract.
- The contract you receive from Citeo must be reviewed carefully before signing — incorrect data means starting over.
- Annual declarations must be filed correctly, with packaging broken down by material type and weight — errors can trigger audits.
- Besides packaging (Citeo), you may also need WEEE registration (ecosystem) and battery registration (Corepile) if your products contain electronics or batteries — that's up to three separate processes.
What ekoniq Handles for You
We take care of the entire French packaging EPR process from start to finish. You provide us with basic company details and a power of attorney — we handle everything else.
Citeo Registration
We fill out the registration, select the correct business category, and ensure the contract reflects your actual status — not a marketplace, not a wrong classification.
Contract Review
We review every Citeo contract before signing to catch errors — wrong company type, marketplace flags, incorrect product categories — and fix them before they become a problem.
IDU Delivery
Once Citeo approves your registration, we deliver your IDU number and guide you through uploading it to Amazon, Cdiscount, or any other marketplace.
Annual Declarations
Every year, we file your packaging declaration with Citeo — material types, weights, unit counts. We ensure accuracy so you pay only what you owe and avoid audits.
Key Deadlines
Annual packaging declaration deadline
You must declare the previous year's packaging volumes by this date. Late filing can result in penalties up to €1,500 per month of delay.
If your annual eco-contribution is under €5,000 (which covers the vast majority of e-commerce sellers), Citeo invoices you once per year in December. No quarterly advances, no monthly installments. Simple and predictable.
Ready to Get Compliant in France?
We handle French packaging EPR for sellers across Europe — from Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, and beyond. Send us your company details and we'll take it from there. Typical turnaround: your IDU number within 2 weeks.
Get Your French IDU NumberFrequently Asked Questions
Can a foreign company (e.g. Czech) register with Citeo?
Yes. Citeo accepts registrations from companies based anywhere in the EU. No French address or subsidiary is required. You register with your home country business address.
How long does the registration take?
Citeo typically approves membership applications within 5–8 business days after the signed contract is submitted. The IDU number is assigned shortly after. Total time from start to having a valid IDU: approximately 2 weeks.
Do I need to register on SYDEREP separately?
No. Citeo handles your SYDEREP registration as part of the onboarding process. You don't need to create an account on SYDEREP or submit anything there yourself.
What if I also sell electronics or batteries in France?
Then you need separate EPR registrations: ecosystem for WEEE (electronics) and Corepile for batteries. ekoniq handles all three categories — packaging, WEEE, and batteries — so you can cover everything through a single partner.