Selling in France without being established there makes you subject to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). REP·Pro becomes your authorised representative established in France and carries your obligations for you.
Short answer: a producer established in the European Union (Estonia) that places products on the French market falls under French EPR, depending on the nature of its products. You must register with ADEME (unique identifier), join an approved producer responsibility organisation (PRO), report your volumes and pay the eco-contribution. REP·Pro acts as your authorised representative established in France to carry out these steps. You remain the responsible producer.
Estonian companies export to France notably in electronics, wood, machinery and food — all of which involve packaging, and often electrical equipment or batteries. As soon as these products are placed on the French market, they fall under the relevant EPR schemes. For your profile, the most frequently concerned scheme is WEEE (electrical and electronic equipment), but a single producer often falls under several schemes at once.
As a producer established in the European Union, you benefit from the single market for your goods — but EPR is a national obligation: placing your products on the French market makes you subject to the French schemes (registration with ADEME, membership of an approved producer responsibility organisation, reporting and eco-contribution), regardless of your obligations at home. Appointing an authorised representative established in France is the practical way to carry these obligations locally.
Batteries: if you place batteries on the French market, appointing an authorised representative is mandatory under EU Regulation 2023/1542 (Article 56, applicable since 18 August 2025), whether you are inside or outside the EU.
Yes. Distance selling to French customers falls within the scope of EPR just like selling through a distributor. The authorised representative lets you carry this responsibility locally.
No. Since 10 July 2026, Article L. 541-10-9-1 of the French Environmental Code (Law No. 2026-602 of 8 July 2026) provides, in its official French wording: « Ce mandataire est subrogé dans toutes les obligations découlant du principe de responsabilité élargie du producteur dont il accepte le mandat. »: you remain responsible, REP·Pro carries out the steps on your behalf.
Related: EPR number in France (IDU) — how to get it · authorised representative by country · EPR WEEE & batteries.