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Home / Use cases
Use case · Machinery

We sell machinery to French factories. Which French EPR streams apply?

Two, possibly three.

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Razvan TomaBy Razvan Toma · Founder
Last updated 15 September 2026Sources linked below
Quick answer

Two, possibly three. Professional packaging (crates, pallets, film) from 1 January 2027, with membership expected before 31 December 2026. Professional electrical and electronic equipment for any powered machine or control unit, already in force, through ecosystem or Ecologic's professional schemes. Batteries if the equipment ships with them. Your French customers use the machines, so they are end users, which makes you the producer; since 10 July 2026 you act through a French representative.

Why the machine maker is the producer

A French plant that buys a machine for its own production is an end user, not a distributor. The first company to make the packaged machine available in France is therefore the foreign supplier. If you sell through a French distributor who resells, the distributor is the producer instead.

Professional WEEE

Professional electrical equipment has its own scheme, separate from household EEE, with contributions per unit or per kilogram. Large machines, control cabinets, motors and tools are in scope; the seller declares them and finances take-back at end of life. Ecologic publishes a professional tariff; ecosystem too.

Professional packaging from 2027

Wooden crates and pallets, steel strapping, film: contributions by tonne and material (wood about €8 to €9 per tonne, plastics about €218). A supplier shipping heavy wooden crates pays little per crate but must declare tonnage. Membership with Citeo Pro, Léko Pro or Twiice before 31 December 2026.

What we do

Producer analysis per customer, packaging inventory from your shipping specs, memberships in both schemes, IDUs, declarations, and the mandate that covers both streams.

Frequently asked questions

Our machines are installed by our own technicians in France. Does that create an establishment?

Sending technicians does not make you established in France; an establishment means a French entity or branch. You still need a representative.

Is professional WEEE already in force?

Yes, for years. Professional packaging is the new part, starting 2027.

We ship on returnable pallets. Do they count?

Reusable packaging is declared differently and Twiice discounts it by 50%; it still has to be declared.

Sources

Razvan Toma
Written byRazvan Toma

Founder of EPR France Rep, the France-based EPR authorised representative for companies selling into France.

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