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Packaging Rules CheckEU packaging rules for small sellers

Question

What is Defra EPR?

Reviewed 2026-08-24

Commonly said

Defra EPR means every business now pays packaging fees.

Defra EPR is the UK's packaging recycling rules — extended producer responsibility. Under £1 million turnover or under 25 tonnes of packaging a year, you are out of scope. Above that, you register and report on GOV.UK.

The name, unpacked

  • EPR stands for extended producer responsibility: businesses that send out packaging pay for collecting and recycling it. For packaging it is often written pEPR.
  • Defra is the environment department. The scheme is administered by PackUK, which Defra hosts, and since April 2026 day-to-day producer services are run by UK Packaging PRO.
  • The law behind it is the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024.

Are you in scope?

  • Under £1 million turnover, or under 25 tonnes of packaging handled a year: out of scope. No registration, no reporting, no fees.
  • Small producer — £1 million to £2 million turnover with more than 25 tonnes, or over £1 million with 25 to 50 tonnes: you report once a year, and small producers have not been charged waste fees so far.
  • Large producer — £2 million or more turnover with more than 50 tonnes: you report twice a year and pay fees per tonne, set by material.
  • It covers the whole UK, including Northern Ireland.

What you actually do

  • Start with the GOV.UK page "Check if you must comply with EPR for packaging". It settles the thresholds in a few minutes.
  • If you are in scope, you register and file through the Report packaging data service. You can deal with the regulator yourself or pay a compliance scheme to file for you.
  • From the 2026 to 2027 year, large producers' fees go up or down with how recyclable their packaging is.

What Defra EPR does not cover

  • Sales into the EU. Each EU country has its own register and scheme, and UK registration counts for none of them.
  • The UK thresholds do not travel either. Most EU countries have no minimum at all, so a business too small for Defra EPR can still owe registrations abroad.

Sources

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