The German EEE Act (ElektroG)

Details about the products the law applies to are on the EAR Foundation page.

• Heat exchangers — temperature exchange equipment: fridges, freezers, air conditioning, heating pumps, etc.
• Monitor devices — screens, monitors and equipment containing screens (>100cm² ): monitors, TV sets, tablets, etc.
• Gas discharge lamps: discharge lamps, fluorescent tubes
• Lamps: LED lamps (also with additional functions)
• Large devices: dishwasher, ventilation system, washing machine, oven, electric cooker, vacuum cleaner, mower, luminaires, copying equipment, large medical devices, musical equipment, etc.
• Large photovoltaic modules: photovoltaic modules with at least one external dimension of more than 50 cm
• Small photovoltaic modules: photovoltaic modules without external dimension of more than 50 cm
• Small devices: all other types of electrical and electronic equipment smaller than 50 cms (length, large or width): hifi, hair dryer, blender, mixer, electrical toy, drill, shaver, watches, smoke detectors, video cameras, thermostats, device with integrated photovoltaic panel, etc.
• Small IT and telecommunication equipment: all IT and telecom devices that are smaller than 50cms (length, large or width): smartphone, router, desktop, printer, wires, set top box, GPS, VHF radio, etc.

• German sellers with own brand (manufacturer/producer):
  Register the brand in the correct ear category/categories and receive a WEEE number.
• German sellers who are Importers (with a branch in Germany):
  • Check first with the EAR Foundation if the products/brands have been introduced already to the German market in the correct ear categories
  • If not, register for a WEEE number
• Non-German Sellers (producers, manufacturers, importers without a branch in Germany who sell via dropship or have products already stored in warehouses in Germany): 
  Manufacturers, producers or importers without a branch in Germany need to contact an authorized representative, approved by the ear Foundation, to register their Devices in the right ear category and sub category

If you do not sell any items from the affected categories, you don’t have to register and provide a WEEE number. However, please make sure that the items that you sell are indeed not covered by the regulation. In case of any doubts, please reach out to your tax advisor or check this with eBay’s partner Interzero.

Yes, you can watch the video here. Please note that this is an EAR Foundation production, not eBay's.

Electrical and electronic equipment within the scope of the EEE Act must be permanently labeled in such a way that it is clear who the producer of the equipment is.

The crossed-out wheelie bin symbol must be permanently attached to the product. In exceptional cases due to the size or function of the equipment, the symbol must be printed on the packaging, the user instructions or the guarantee certificate instead of on the equipment.

Yes. Since 1 January 2022, it has been mandatory to enclose the below information in writing with the electrical and electronic equipment:

• Obligation to collect waste equipment separately
• Obligation to remove old batteries/accumulators and lamps from waste equipment before returning it (if this is possible without destroying the waste equipment and no reuse is intended)
• Description of the take-back obligations of distributors
• Information on the producer's own take-back offers for waste equipment
• Consumers' own responsibility to delete personal data from the waste equipment to be disposed of
• Meaning of the wheelie bin symbol on waste equipment

Registration in accordance with the EEE directive is also required when using the Global Shipping Program.

• If the used electronic equipment that you sell comes from abroad and you are selling them in Germany for the first time:
  You — as a manufacturer — must apply for your individual WEEE registration number for this equipment
• The used electronic equipment comes from Germany:
  You do not need your individual WEEE registration number if you are not selling the equipment under your (brand) name

Yes, you are also required to register and provide a WEEE number irrespective if the brand itself has taken a WEEE number as eBay does not allow other registered WEEE numbers to be added on seller’s eBay account. If you are selling items from several brands, you need to register a WEEE number for each brand separately.