FAQ
10. Who is the addressee of the obligations named in § 6 of the German Packaging Ordinance?
§ 6 of the German Packaging Ordinance is addressed to producers and distributors of sales packaging filled with goods which typically end up with the final end-user. At the same time as the packaging is manufactured and distributed they assume the responsibility for taking it back and recycling it („Erstinverkehrbringer“). This is one of the main changes of the 5th amendment of the German Packaging Ordinance.
Until the end of 2008 it was possible to choose which part of the trade chain (producer, bottler, distributor, retailer) participated with a dual system. As of 1 Januar 2009 this choice was omitted (except for service packaging).
Producer in terms of the German Packaging Ordinance is anyone who produces packaging, packaging materials or products from which packaging is directly manufactured, and anyone who imports packaging into the territorial scope of the Ordinance. Distributor according to the German Packaging Ordinance is anyone who puts into circulation packaging, packaging materials or products from which packaging can be directly manufactured, or goods in packaging, at whatever level of trade. Distributor within the meaning of the Ordinance also includes mail-order trade.
