Austria Packaging EPR Training: Rules, Fees & Reporting

Austria Packaging EPR Training: From Regulations to Practical Compliance

For companies selling packaged products in Austria, packaging compliance begins before goods reach a warehouse, retailer or customer. An Austrian importer, a local packer and a foreign online seller may have different responsibilities even when handling similar products. Identifying the obligated business and determining which packaging enters the Austrian market are essential first steps.

Austria's Abfallwirtschaftsgesetz (AWG 2002) and Verpackungsverordnung 2014 establish obligations covering packaging collection, recovery and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Companies must distinguish household packaging from commercial packaging, participate in approved collection and recovery systems where required, and maintain reliable material and weight records.

Additional requirements may apply to foreign distance sellers, businesses with specific Electronic Data Management (EDM) reporting obligations and companies handling beverages subject to Austria's deposit-return system.

The regulatory landscape is also changing. Since 12 August 2026, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) has introduced phased requirements alongside Austria's existing framework.

ComplyMarket GmbH's one-day, in-person Austria Packaging EPR Compliance Training provides a structured introduction to these responsibilities and their practical application. Through country-specific explanations, examples and exercises, participants will examine packaging classification, producer responsibility, reporting procedures, licensing costs and compliance documentation.

The objective is to help businesses make informed decisions and organize their Austrian packaging compliance activities.

Event Details

• Training: Austria Packaging EPR Compliance Training – From A to Z
• Organizer: ComplyMarket GmbH
• Duration: One day
• Time: 09:00–17:00, Munich local time (CET/CEST as applicable)
• Format: Onsite, in-person training
• Location: ComplyMarket GmbH, Leopoldstraße 244, 80807 Munich, Germany
• Language: English
• Event Date: 2nd of November 2026
• Participation Fee: Free of Charge
• Country Covered: Austria

What Will You Learn?

Participants will develop a practical understanding of Austria's packaging EPR framework and the responsibilities associated with placing packaged products on the market.

By the end of the training, you will be better prepared to:

1. Identify obligated producers and first placers under Austrian packaging legislation.
2. Classify household and commercial packaging using Austria's applicable rules.
3. Understand participation requirements for approved collection and recovery systems.
4. Determine when foreign businesses need an Austrian authorized representative.
5. Identify relevant EDM registration and reporting procedures.
6. Calculate packaging quantities and understand material-based licensing charges.
7. Distinguish packaging EPR obligations from deposit-return and reuse requirements.
8. Prepare documentation for suppliers, customers and compliance checks.
9. Understand applicable PPWR requirements and upcoming regulatory changes.

One-Day Training Agenda

09:00-09:45 | Packaging EPR framework and packaging classification

The training begins with the legal foundations of Austria's packaging responsibility system. Participants will examine the interaction between national packaging legislation and applicable EU rules, including the distinction between household and commercial packaging.

Topics covered:

• Overview of AWG 2002 and the Verpackungsverordnung 2014.
• Roles of the Austrian environmental ministry and relevant competent bodies.
• Sales, grouped, shipping, transport and service packaging definitions.
• Household and commercial packaging classification under Austrian rules.
• Application of the Verpackungsabgrenzungsverordnung and product-group allocations.
• Material categories including paper, cardboard, glass, metals, plastics, wood and composites.

09:45-10:30 | Who is responsible?

Determining the legally responsible business is essential to avoiding duplicated or missing compliance obligations. This session examines primary obligors (Primärverpflichtete) under Austrian law and how responsibility changes across supply chains.

Topics covered:

• Austrian manufacturers and importers of service packaging.
• Domestic packers and importers placing packaged products on the market.
• Own-use importers whose packaging becomes waste within their businesses.
• Foreign distance sellers supplying packaged goods to Austrian private consumers.
• Responsibilities of brand owners, distributors, marketplaces and fulfillment providers.
• Mandatory and optional authorized representative arrangements, depending on business activity.

10:30-10:45 | Coffee break

10:45-11:30 | Registration and competent bodies

Austria's packaging compliance procedures are different from Germany's LUCID registration model. Participants will learn how approved system participation, EDM reporting and authorized representative registration operate.

Topics covered:

• Identifying approved Austrian collection and recovery systems.
• Understanding licensing contracts and packaging participation documentation.
• When EDM registration is required for particular reporting activities.
• Using the eRAS/ZAReg registration framework where applicable.
• Authorized representative registration and supporting power-of-attorney documentation.
• Maintaining company details, declarations and evidence of compliance.

11:30-12:15 | EPR participation, producer schemes and packaging types

Austria generally requires relevant primary obligors placing household or commercial packaging on the market to participate in an approved Sammel- und Verwertungssystem. This session focuses on selecting appropriate participation arrangements and identifying legally recognized exceptions.

Topics covered:

• Mandatory participation and its scope under Austrian packaging law.
• Household versus commercial packaging collection and recovery systems.
• Approved providers such as ARA, ERP Austria and Interzero.
• Licensing agreements, material coverage and confirmation of participation.
• Documented upstream or downstream licensing and applicable exceptions.
• Treatment of reusable packaging, qualifying large waste-generation sites and deposit containers.

12:15-13:00 | Lunch break

13:00-14:00 | Packaging quantity reporting

Accurate packaging data supports licensing, budgeting and regulatory reporting. Participants will learn to organize material information across products, suppliers, shipments and sales channels, while distinguishing scheme reporting from specific statutory EDM reporting duties.

Topics covered:

• Creating a packaging bill of materials for individual products and shipments.
• Measuring and recording packaging quantities by material and weight.
• Determining household and commercial packaging allocations.
• Calculating licensed quantities from sales, import and packaging records.
• Understanding reporting frequencies, annual declarations and possible flat-rate schemes.
• Distinguishing system submissions from Annex 3 EDM reporting, generally due by 31 March for relevant reporters.
• Reconciling forecasts, actual quantities, corrections and supporting documentation.

14:00-14:45 | Collection, deposits and take-back

Packaging EPR extends beyond financing recycling. Businesses must understand how packaging enters Austria's collection infrastructure and when additional return or deposit obligations apply.

Topics covered:

• Collection arrangements for household packaging, including paper, glass and lightweight packaging.
• Austria's combined collection of non-deposit plastic and metal packaging.
• Commercial packaging collection and waste-management responsibilities.
• Austria's €0.25 deposit system for covered single-use beverage containers.
• Registration and operational responsibilities involving Recycling Pfand Österreich.
• Reusable packaging, large waste-generation sites and applicable take-back arrangements.

14:45-15:00 | Coffee break

15:00-15:45 | EPR licensing fees and recycling cost model

Packaging EPR costs depend on the packaging material, quantities, classification and selected approved system. Participants will examine the elements of a practical licensing budget without confusing private scheme charges with government administrative procedures.

Topics covered:

• Differentiating system participation fees from public reporting procedures.
• Understanding material- and weight-based licensing tariffs.
• Comparing published household and commercial packaging tariff categories.
• Evaluating available flat-rate arrangements for qualifying small packaging quantities.
• Identifying applicable single-use-plastic cost-recovery surcharges.
• Considering collection, logistics, recycling and service-provider costs.
• Building a documented annual packaging EPR cost forecast.

15:45-16:30 | Packaging design, labeling, recycling and regulatory changes

This session distinguishes existing packaging EPR responsibilities from broader product-packaging requirements. Particular attention is given to the phased application of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 and its implications for Austrian businesses.

Topics covered:

• PPWR requirements that began applying on 12 August 2026.
• Substance restrictions, including applicable PFAS limits for food-contact packaging.
• Packaging technical documentation and conformity responsibilities.
• Austria's treatment of coffee capsules, coffee pads and tea bags as packaging.
• Future recyclability, recycled-content, minimization, labeling and reuse requirements.
• Maintaining compliance evidence and monitoring future Austrian legal amendments.

16:30-17:00 | Practical case study and Q&A

Participants will apply the day's learning to a foreign business selling packaged products into Austria. The exercise follows a realistic compliance assessment, from identifying the responsible entity to establishing packaging records and cost estimates.

Practical activities:

• Identify the business responsible for packaging placed on the Austrian market.
• Classify the product, shipping and transport packaging.
• Determine authorized representative requirements where applicable.
• Identify suitable system participation and any separate reporting obligations.
• Prepare a basic packaging weight and licensing cost assessment.
• Discuss documentation gaps, compliance risks and next actions.

The session concludes with questions about the regulatory requirements discussed during the training.

Who Should Attend?

This training is designed for businesses involved in manufacturing, importing, distributing, selling or managing packaged products in Austria.

It is particularly relevant for:

• Manufacturers and brand owners responsible for packaging specifications and market placement.
• Importers and distributors managing packaged goods entering Austria.
• E-commerce sellers supplying Austrian customers from other countries.
• Packaging and procurement teams maintaining material specifications and supplier information.
• Compliance and sustainability professionals responsible for EPR obligations, documentation and reporting.
• Retailers, fulfillment businesses and consultants working with packaging compliance requirements.

The training is suitable for professionals establishing Austrian packaging compliance procedures or reviewing existing arrangements.

Why Attend ComplyMarket's Packaging EPR Training?

Packaging compliance requires coordination between regulatory teams, procurement, logistics, suppliers and commercial operations.

This training focuses on translating Austria's regulatory requirements into practical business activities.

Country-specific regulatory understanding

Examine Austria's actual packaging licensing framework, including national institutions, approved systems and foreign seller requirements.

Practical classification and reporting

Learn how packaging materials, product groups and weight records affect licensing decisions and reporting responsibilities.

Better cost visibility

Understand how system tariffs, packaging quantities and relevant surcharges contribute to annual EPR costs.

Preparation for regulatory changes

Review current obligations alongside the PPWR's phased requirements, helping teams distinguish immediate responsibilities from future compliance projects.

Frequently Asked Questions About Austria Packaging EPR

1. Who is responsible for packaging EPR compliance in Austria?

Under AWG 2002, primary obligors include Austrian manufacturers and importers of service packaging, domestic packers and importers, certain own-use importers, and foreign distance sellers supplying Austrian private consumers. The exact responsibility depends on the packaging, transaction and applicable legal provisions.

2. Does Austria distinguish household packaging from commercial packaging?

Yes. Austria applies a legally defined distinction between Haushaltsverpackungen and gewerbliche Verpackungen. Classification involves packaging characteristics, product groups and the packaging's typical place of generation. Selling to a business does not automatically make every packaging component commercial packaging.

3. Is there a mandatory packaging register similar to Germany's LUCID?

Austria does not operate Germany's LUCID process. Relevant companies generally fulfill packaging EPR responsibilities through approved collection and recovery systems. EDM registration and reporting are required for specified activities, including certain own-use importers, large waste-generation sites and authorized representatives.

4. Must foreign companies appoint an Austrian authorized representative?

Foreign distance sellers without an Austrian establishment supplying packaged goods to Austrian private consumers must appoint an authorized representative under the applicable rules. Certain EU/EEA businesses supplying non-private recipients may appoint a representative voluntarily. The requirements must be assessed by transaction type.

5. Are small companies exempt from packaging licensing?

There is no general exemption simply because a company sells small quantities of packaging. Approved systems may offer simplified flat-rate arrangements for qualifying quantities, including up to 1,500 kg annually in the relevant household or commercial packaging category. Such arrangements do not automatically remove the underlying compliance obligation.

6. How are packaging EPR licensing fees calculated?

Fees generally depend on packaging materials, weights, applicable tariff categories and the approved system. Companies should distinguish licensing contributions from separate administrative, representation and service costs. Applicable single-use-plastic surcharges may also affect the total.

7. What packaging quantities must businesses report?

System participants report packaging quantities according to their participation arrangements. Separate statutory EDM reporting applies to specific categories, including relevant own-use importers and large waste-generation sites. Annex 3 annual reports are generally due by 31 March for the previous calendar year; approved systems have separate authority-reporting deadlines.

8. Does Austria have a deposit-return system for beverage packaging?

Yes. Since 1 January 2025, covered single-use plastic beverage bottles and metal cans with capacities from 0.1 to 3 litres have been subject to a €0.25 deposit. Exclusions apply, including certain milk products and beverage cartons. Affected businesses must assess registration, labeling and return obligations under the separate deposit framework.

9. How does the EU PPWR affect Austrian packaging EPR?

Regulation (EU) 2025/40 began applying in phases on 12 August 2026. Some requirements, including certain substance restrictions, already apply, while others have later dates. Existing Austrian collection, recovery and reporting rules generally continue where compatible with the PPWR. Businesses should assess both frameworks.

10. Does packaging licensing in Austria cover other EU countries?

No. Packaging EPR obligations are assessed separately in the countries where packaging is placed on the market. Participation in an Austrian collection and recovery system does not automatically satisfy German, French, Italian or other national registration and financing requirements.

Register Your Interest in Austria Packaging EPR Training

Interested in understanding Austria's packaging EPR obligations and improving your company's compliance procedures?

Contact info@complymarket.com to express your interest in the upcoming onsite training and request information about the event date, participation fee and registration arrangements.

Prepare your team for Austria's packaging compliance requirements with ComplyMarket GmbH.