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Use case · Small volumes

I only ship a few parcels a month to France. Does EPR apply?

Yes.

Free EPR Calculator →Do I need a representative?
Razvan TomaBy Razvan Toma · Founder
Last updated 15 September 2026Sources linked below
Quick answer

Yes. French household packaging EPR has no minimum quantity: the first parcel to a French consumer makes you a producer. What changes with volume is the cost, not the obligation. Small producers use the eco-organismes' flat-rate or simplified regimes, where the eco-contributions are a fixed amount per year (around €95 to €250 depending on the scheme). Since 10 July 2026 a foreign store also needs a French representative, which is the larger cost, so the honest question for a very small store is whether France is worth serving at all.

What applies at small volumes

  • Household packaging: always. Léko's 2026 minimum bill is €95 excl. VAT per half-year; Citeo runs a comparable simplified regime.
  • Product streams: textiles (Refashion has a simplified declaration under 5,000 items a year), toys, furniture and others each add a membership.
  • Representative: mandatory since 10 July 2026 if you have no French establishment; this is a fixed annual fee whatever your volume.

The real decision

Add up the fixed costs: representative fee plus setup, plus flat eco-contributions per stream. Compare with your French margin. Many small stores conclude France is worth it only above a few thousand euros of annual sales, and either grow into it or geo-block France until then. Selling without registration is not a middle option: marketplaces check IDUs, and fines under article L. 541-9-5 start at the first unit.

If you stay

Our Essential plan covers one stream, typically household packaging, with flat-rate declarations. The free calculator shows the eco-contribution side; the pricing page shows ours.

Frequently asked questions

Is there really no de minimis for packaging?

None. The EU packaging regulation and French law both apply from the first unit. Only the declaration regime (flat-rate vs actual volumes) depends on quantity.

Can I use Amazon Pay on Behalf as a small seller?

Amazon asks even small sellers for their own registration numbers since August 2026. Pay on Behalf does not provide an IDU.

Can I just block French customers?

Yes, and for very small volumes that is a legitimate choice. If you block France, the obligation does not arise.

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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