EU Battery Regulation and German WEEE: What Online Sellers of Electronics Must Register

Which products are affected

Electrical and electronic equipment: anything with a plug or battery or that runs on electric current, including almost all consumer electronics, small appliances, lighting and electric toys.
Batteries: batteries sold on their own and batteries built into products such as power stations, robot vacuums, earbuds and power tools.
A battery-powered device usually needs both registrations: the device under WEEE, the battery under battery law.

Electrical equipment: ElektroG and Stiftung EAR

Section 8 of the German Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) requires producers without a branch in Germany to appoint a German authorised representative (Bevollmächtigter); this explicitly includes distance sellers supplying German end users.

The mandate is in writing, in German, and lasts at least three months.
The representative registers you with Stiftung EAR and you receive a WEEE registration number (WEEE-Reg.-Nr.).
The number must be shown in business communications and on invoices, and is commonly shown on product pages.
After registration you report quantities and provide a guarantee for take-back of household equipment.
Selling without registration can be fined up to €100,000 (§45).

Other EU countries keep their own WEEE registers, and distance sellers need an authorised representative and registration in each country they ship to.

Batteries: the EU Battery Regulation and Germany’s BattDG

Chapter VIII of the EU Battery Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1542), on extended producer responsibility, has applied since 18 August 2025. A seller outside a member state that supplies batteries directly to end users there is a producer in that state (Article 3(47)(d)). It must register in each such state (Article 55) and appoint an EPR authorised representative in each (Article 56(3)). Batteries built into devices count.

Germany replaced its Battery Act (BattG) with the BattDG. Producers abroad must appoint a German authorised representative and register with Stiftung EAR. Stiftung EAR required producers to contract a take-back organisation and report quantities by 15 January 2026, or their registration would lapse; if you have not done so, act now.

Battery labelling timeline

Requirement	From
Separate collection symbol (crossed-out wheelie bin)	18 August 2025
Capacity and other information label	The later of 18 August 2026 and 18 months after the implementing act
QR code	18 February 2027

Order of work

List the electrical products you sell into Germany and identify equipment categories and built-in battery types.
Appoint a German authorised representative; one firm can cover both WEEE and batteries.
Have the representative register you with Stiftung EAR for WEEE and batteries.
Contract a take-back organisation and provide the guarantee.
Show your registration numbers on product pages and invoices and add the collection symbol to products.
Report quantities as required. For France, register electrical equipment and batteries under French EPR as well; see the French EPR guide.

Questions

We have a WEEE number for Amazon Germany. Can our store use it?

WEEE registration is per producer, brand and equipment category, not per sales channel. The same producer and brand can use the same number for the store, with quantities reported together.

We only sell power banks. Is that WEEE or batteries?

Power banks are generally treated as batteries and may also fall under electrical equipment categories. Check the specific product before registering.

What happens if we do not register?

Unregistered electrical equipment and batteries may not be sold in Germany. ElektroG fines reach €100,000, and competitors can send cease-and-desist letters.

The EU Battery Regulation and German WEEE: registration for online sellers of electronics