Do I Need to Register With CITEO to Sell to France?
PPWRUsually, yes — if you place packaged goods on the French market, France’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules generally require you to be registered and to contribute to the packaging recycling system. CITEO is the main eco-organisation that online sellers work with to meet those packaging obligations. Selling from another country does not remove the duty; it follows the packaging into France.
Why CITEO comes into play
Under the French framework shaped by the AGEC law, the party first placing packaging on the market is treated as its producer and must fund its collection and recycling. Rather than dealing with local authorities directly, producers typically enrol with an accredited eco-organisation such as CITEO, declare the packaging they put on the market, and pay an eco-contribution that finances the system.
The identifiant unique
Separately, France requires producers subject to EPR to obtain an identifiant unique — a unique registration identifier issued via the environment agency ADEME. This number proves you are enrolled in the relevant scheme, and marketplaces increasingly ask to see it before allowing sales into France.
- Check whether you place packaging on the French market — most cross-border online sellers do.
- Obtain your identifiant unique via ADEME.
- Enrol with CITEO (or an equivalent eco-organisation), declare packaging and pay the eco-contribution.
This sits alongside the EU-wide PPWR (Regulation (EU) 2025/40), which governs how packaging is designed and minimised. For the wider picture, see our complete PPWR guide and the PPWR law page. Requirements and thresholds change, so confirm the current position with the French authorities.
This answer is educational and does not constitute legal advice.