The IDU (identifiant unique) is the registration number proving a producer is registered for a given French EPR scheme. It is issued through ADEME's SYDEREP register once the producer has joined an approved eco-organisme (or set up an approved individual system). There is one IDU per scheme. Marketplaces operating in France ask sellers for their IDUs and can block listings without them. Producers not established in France obtain their IDUs through their French EPR representative.
How the IDU works
- Issuer: ADEME, the French ecological transition agency, via the SYDEREP register.
- Trigger: membership of an approved eco-organisme for a scheme.
- One per scheme: a company selling packaged electronics needs separate IDUs for packaging and for electrical equipment.
- Public: registered producers and their IDUs can be searched on ADEME's EPR portal.
Why marketplaces ask for it
French law makes online marketplaces jointly responsible for the EPR obligations of non-compliant sellers. Platforms such as Amazon.fr, Cdiscount, ManoMano and Fnac therefore request IDUs from third-party sellers and can deactivate listings or accounts when a valid number is missing.
How a foreign seller gets an IDU
- Confirm which French EPR schemes apply to your products and packaging.
- Appoint a French EPR representative by written mandate (mandatory since 10 July 2026 if you are not established in France).
- Join the relevant eco-organisme for each scheme.
- Receive the IDU for each scheme and add it to your marketplace accounts.
- File periodic declarations of the quantities you place on the French market.
Frequently asked questions
Is the IDU the same as a VAT or SIRET number?
No. The IDU is specific to Extended Producer Responsibility and to one EPR scheme. It is unrelated to VAT or company registration numbers.
Do I need a new IDU for professional packaging?
Professional (B2B) packaging is a separate scheme from household packaging, so it requires its own membership and identifier.
Can I get an IDU without joining an eco-organisme?
An IDU follows membership of an approved eco-organisme or an approved individual system. In practice most producers join a collective eco-organisme.