Extended producer responsibility for the sale of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE)
Quartz watches, smartwatches, and watch winders fall under extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation in many countries – in some cases, in addition to rules for packaging and batteries.
In this article, you can read in detail how to sell electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) – such as quartz watches or smartwatches – on Chrono24 in a legally compliant manner.
New: Manage EPR Obligations Easily in the Compliance Hub.
According to EU regulations on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a dealer is considered a producer in an EU country as soon as they place certain products or packaging for end consumers on this market for the first time – including in the context of distance selling and regardless of where the dealer is based.
As a Chrono24 partner selling new and pre-owned watches, you may be subject to EPR obligations with regard to packaging (PACK), electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), or batteries (BATT), depending on the products sold and the destination country.
Our new Compliance Hub provides you with step-by-step guidance and a central dashboard where you can review your EPR obligations, submit required data, and track their status at any time.
Once you have submitted the required data, the status will change to “Submitted” and the obligation in question will be considered fulfilled – unless we contact you for further verification.
Please note: We cannot offer legal advice. The information provided here is for general guidance only. For specific advice on how the regulations apply to your individual case, we recommend that you contact qualified legal counsel. Chrono24 is entitled to request proof of compliance with your EPR obligations at any time. As a dealer, you must ensure that you have all the necessary registrations and evidence so that your listings remain active.
The term “extended producer responsibility” (EPR) refers to international regulations that oblige producers and retailers to ensure the environmentally-friendly design, use, and disposal of their products throughout the entire product life cycle. EPR covers various product categories that are regulated differently depending on the country – for example, packaging (PACK), batteries (BATT), and electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).The latter are often referred to as WEEE (“Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment”) within the framework of the EU Directive. If you sell electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) – such as quartz watches, smartwatches, or watch winders – in EU countries and place these devices on the market there commercially for the first time, you may be obliged to register in official EEE registers of the countries and contribute to the subsequent disposal of the devices as part of the extended producer responsibility. In some EU countries, as a marketplace we are legally obliged to ensure that our dealers comply with the respective EPR requirements for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). In this article, you will find information on registration and system participation as part of extended producer responsibility as well as country-specific details for the EU countries in which we currently have to check compliance with the EPR requirements.
Who is affected?
The regulations on extended producer responsibility for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) affect all dealers on Chrono24 who offer electronic or electrical items – such as quartz watches, smartwatches, or accessories with electrical components – for the first time in Germany, France, or Austria. It does not matter whether the items are new or used. Put simply, as soon as you offer or sell such items in these EU countries for the first time, you are considered a producer within the meaning of the WEEE Directive (Directive 2012/19/EU).
You are considered a producer if one of the following points applies to you:
- You are not based in the EU country to which you sell electronic or electrical goods: → As a distance seller who sells to end consumers in this country, you are considered a producer and must fulfill EPR obligations there.
- You are based in an EU country and sell electronic or electrical items that you produce yourself or that are produced for you to end consumers in the same country under your own brand: → As soon as you offer and sell these items in your country for the first time, you place them "on the market" there and are considered a producer.
- You are based in an EU country and sell electronic or electrical items originating from another EU country or a third country (e.g., Switzerland, Japan, USA) to end users in the same country: → Since these products were not previously on the market in your country, you are placing them on the market there for the first time and are considered a producer.
- You purchase electronic items from private sellers and offer them commercially in the EU: → In this case, you place the devices on the market commercially and are therefore considered a producer on Chrono24.
Which electronic devices are affected?
The regulations apply to all devices that require electricity for their operation – whether they draw it from the power grid or from batteries. This includes both active and passive devices and components on our marketplace, for example:
- Quartz watches and smartwatches
- Electronic watch winders
- Power supply units, cables, adapters, and switches
- Watches with integrated electronic functions (e.g., backlight)
The requirements apply to both new and used items when they are placed on the market in the EU for the first time.
What does this mean for me as a dealer on Chrono24?
Below you will find an overview of the central obligations under the WEEE Directive in connection with the sale of electrical and electronic equipment on Chrono24 in Germany, France, or Austria. The requirements that apply to you depend, among other things, on whether your company is based in the EU country in which you offer electronic items.
If you are considered a producer and your company is based in the EU country in which you offer electronic goods:
- Obligation to register: You must register with the competent national authority (EEE register).
- System participation / take-back obligation: You may have to join an approved take-back or collection system.
- Quantity reporting: You must regularly report the quantities placed on the market.
If you are considered a producer and your company is not based in the EU country where you offer electronic goods:
- Authorization: In all three EU countries mentioned above in which you have neither your registered office nor a branch, you must appoint an authorized representative based in this EU country. They will assume your obligations (e.g., registration in the national EEE register, official communication) under the WEEE Directive.
- An authorized representative may be a natural or legal person resident there or a corresponding service provider.
Country-specific information
Sale of electrical goods such as quartz watches in or to Germany
If your company is based in Germany and is considered a producer:
Requirements:
- You are considered a producer within the meaning of the German Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act if you make electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) commercially available on the German market for the first time, regardless of whether it is new or used.
- If you are the owner of a brand, you must register your brand with the EAR Foundation in the correct category (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Register) before placing it on the market.
- Even if you place new or used electrical items on the German market for the first time under a third-party brand, you are considered a producer within the meaning of the WEEE Directive and must register.
- Submit an application for registration for each brand that you offer and for which you are considered a producer within the meaning of the EEE Regulation.
- After successful registration, you will receive an EPR number that is valid for all the brands you have registered in the EAR.
Information that Chrono24 requires from you:
- Your EPR number (from EAR) under which these brands are listed
If your company is based outside of Germany:
Requirements:
- Please reference the information provided for foreign companies by the EAR Foundation (Waste Electrical Equipment Register).
- As a foreign company without a registered office or branch in Germany, you must appoint an authorized representative based in Germany to assume the legal obligations arising from the regulations on producer responsibility for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE Directive) on your behalf.
- The authorized representative carries out registration of your brands in EAR for you. After successful registration, you will receive your individual EPR number, which is valid for all the brands registered in EAR.
Information that Chrono24 requires from you:
- Name of the authorized representative
- Evidence of authorization (e.g., a contract)
- Your EPR number (from EAR) under which these brands are listed
Sale of electrical goods such as quartz watches in or to France
If your company is based in France and is considered a producer:
Requirements:
- You are considered a producer within the meaning of French electrical and electronic equipment regulations when you make electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) commercially available on the French market for the first time – regardless of whether the equipment is new or used.
- Register with an approved eco-organization for electrical appliances (e.g., Ecosystem) and take out a license.
- The eco-organization enters your company in the French ADEME/SYDEREP register.
- After successful registration, you will receive your EPR number (UIN – Unique Identification Number) from the eco-organization. This is awarded separately for each product category (e.g., electrical appliances, packaging, batteries).
Information that Chrono24 requires from you:
- EPR number (UIN for the category "Electrical equipment")
Note: We regularly check the validity of your EPR number in the SYDEREP system.
If your company is based outside France:
Requirements:
- As a foreign company without a registered office or branch in France, you must appoint an authorized representative based in France to assume the legal obligations arising from EPR for WEEE on your behalf.
- Example representative: Get-e-right.
Information that Chrono24 requires from you:
- Name of the authorized representative
- Evidence of authorization (e.g., a contract)
- EPR number (UIN for the category "Electrical equipment")
Note: We regularly check the validity of your EPR number in the SYDEREP system.
Sale of electrical goods such as quartz watches in or to Austria
If your company is based in Austria and is considered a producer:
Requirements:
- You are considered a producer within the meaning of the Austrian electrical and electronic equipment regulations if you make electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) commercially available on the Austrian market for the first time – regardless of whether the equipment is new or used.
- Register on the EDM portal(edm.gv.at). After successful registration, you will receive your individual GLN number, which is valid as an EPR number for Chrono24. Conclude a contract with a
- collection and recycling system (e.g., ERA, ERP Austria, Interzero). A list of approved collection and recycling systems for waste electrical and electronic equipment can be found here.
Information that Chrono24 requires from you: No direct information required.
Note: You are contractually obliged to provide your EPR number to Chrono24 upon request.
If your company is based outside of Austria:
Requirements:
- As a foreign company without a registered office or branch in Austria, you must appoint an authorized representative based in Austria to assume the legal obligations arising from the EPR regulations for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE Directive) on your behalf.
- The authorized representative carries out the registration in the EDM portal for you. After successful registration, you will receive your individual GLN number, which is valid as an EPR number for Chrono24.
Information that Chrono24 requires from you: No direct information required.
Note: You are contractually obliged to provide Chrono24 with your EPR number, the name of the authorized representative, and evidence of authorization upon request.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
If you are based in an EU country and purchase all electrical and electronic equipment exclusively from commercial suppliers (upstream suppliers) from the same country, these suppliers are generally considered to be the producer, not you.
The prerequisite is that your upstream suppliers are registered in the national EEE register and fulfill their producer obligations.
If you buy and sell within the same EU country and your commercial suppliers (upstream suppliers) are already registered as producers there, the producer responsibility lies with these upstream suppliers.
In this case, you do not have to register yourself, but you should request the relevant information (e.g., EPR number and registration data) from your upstream suppliers, as you may have to submit this to us instead of your own registration data (depending on the destination country).
However, this exception only applies if all electrical and electronic equipment that you offer comes exclusively from domestic upstream suppliers.
If you also purchase items from abroad or from private sources and sell them in your country, you are considered a producer for these items and must register accordingly in the national EEE register.
Yes, a separate registration and system participation is required for each country to which you sell electrical and electronic equipment if you are considered a producer there.
Foreign retailers without a registered office or branch in the respective target country must generally appoint an authorized representative based in this country to fulfil their obligations under extended producer responsibility (EPR). This authorized representative – a natural or legal person based there – acts on behalf of the retailer and takes on tasks such as:
- Registration in the national EEE register,
- Submission of legally required quantity reports
- Communication with the relevant authorities
This ensures that even retailers without a local registered office properly fulfill their EPR obligations and comply with the legal requirements in the respective country.
As a dealer on Chrono24, you must ensure that you fulfill all legal obligations regarding extended producer responsibility (EPR). If you do not comply with these requirements, your listings will be considered non-compliant.
In this case, Chrono24 may have to block or remove listings for the target markets in which you do not meet the requirements in order to comply with the law. Depending on the country, fines or sales bans may also be imposed.
Yes, the WEEE Directive also applies to used items when they are placed on the market commercially for the first time in an EU country.
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