Project Description
The WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU requires that EU countries work together and share information to make sure producers of electrical and electronic equipment follow the rules. Each producer must register in a national register (like Stiftung EAR in Germany or Probleemtooteregister in Estonia) to show they will take responsibility when their products become waste (WEEE).
Right now, there is no shared EU website or register where producers can find out what they need to do in each country. This makes it harder for producers—especially those selling to other countries (distance sellers)—to follow the law.
When a producer from one country sells products in another without being established there, they must appoint an authorised representative in that country. If they don’t, it’s hard for national authorities to take legal action. This is why EU countries must cooperate and share information—especially to report producers who don’t follow the rules in their home country.
Article 18 of the directive also says that countries should share the results of inspections.
This project aims to improve cooperation between EU countries to ensure producers of electrical and electronic equipment comply with the WEEE Directive. It will provide clear, up-to-date information on national registration requirements and support enforcement by strengthening cross-border communication and coordination.
Project History
Between 2022 and 2024, the WEEE Project concentrated on improving enforcement of the WEEE Directive, especially in the areas of free-riding and the use of authorised representatives (ARs). The project delivered two focused studies:
- One analyzed national measures taken to reduce free-riding
- The other compared how EU member states apply the directive—particularly regarding EEE registers and the use of ARs
Although a planned joint statement on future EU legislation was eventually cancelled, the project underlined the importance of national diversity in enforcement approaches and continued collaboration through the IMPEL network. Earlier work, including guidance reports from 2019 and 2020, also supported producers in understanding Article 17 of the directive and dealing with varying national legal requirements.
All project outputs are available under Project Outputs menu on the right side of the page.
Next Cycle (2025-2027)
This project helps EU countries work together better to make sure the rules for electronic waste (WEEE Directive) are followed. It will make inspections more effective, help share good ideas, and support fair enforcement across Europe.
An information package will be created to explain each country’s rules, how producers can register, and who to contact. This will help both producers and authorities—especially for companies selling across borders (distance sellers).
The project will:
- Share important information between national authorities
- Look into doing joint inspections between countries
- Focus on tricky product types like e-cigarettes and solar panels
- Make cooperation and enforcement stronger across the EU
To make this easier, the project will use Basecamp 3, an online tool where authorities can share updates, plan actions, and quickly find the right contacts in other countries. This helps everyone stay connected and work more efficiently together.
Follow this page for updates and key developments throughout the project.