How can SMEs remain competitive amid changing regulations and growing global competition? At the upcoming VERE podium event on 9 September at the Mövenpick Hotel Hamburg, VERE members will engage directly with representatives responsible for regulation and market surveillance to discuss the challenges facing the industry and explore practical solutions. Our…

In principle, portable batteries integrated into products should be removable and replaceable by the end user. For safety reasons, however, some products are exempt from this requirement; in these cases, the batteries can instead be removed and replaced by independent specialists. An EU initiative is currently underway to clarify which products or product…

Will the obligation to appoint an authorised representative be temporarily suspended? The decisive EU Parliament reading is scheduled for 5 October 2026. VERE warns that it could create risks for its members and weaken enforcement efforts.

The European Union’s multi-million-euro fine against the international online marketplace could mark a turning point for market surveillance, product compliance and fair competition in the internal market, signalling a more rigorous enforcement of product safety requirements in the future.

A multi-billion-euro takeover is currently under close scrutiny by European authorities and raises significant questions about competition, market structure, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

The European Commission has withdrawn its detailed statement on the draft of the German Packaging Law Implementation Act (VerpackDG). As a result, the earlier extension of the standstill period no longer applies, so the VerpackDG could now be adopted before 12 August 2026.

Penalty notices regarding a lack of ElektroG registration are on the rise again: lamps and other electrical appliances are increasingly coming under the scrutiny of competition-law enforcement associations. Even minor infringements can result in costly fines. Failure to register with the EAR Foundation (German registration board for electronic equipment and…

The German government as well as the EU is pushing for stricter regulations on controversial ‘forever chemicals’ – including potential sales bans, heavy fines, product recalls and tighter market surveillance. Many companies do not even always know whether their products or supply chains are affected – yet, at the same time, marketability requirements are…

WWF Germany is pushing for a new central regulatory body for packaging waste, calling for mandatory funding and stricter requirements for companies throughout the entire supply chain. In addition, they call for a new eco-modulation scheme to provide economic incentives for certain packaging designs only.

Hanka Mittelstädt, the Environment Minister for Brandenburg, is urging Germany to outlaw disposable vapes right away. Brandenburg presented the suggestion at the Leipzig Conference of Environment Ministers alongside North Rhine-Westphalia. Additionally, the Federal Environment Minister has declared that legislation prohibiting disposable vapes will be…

The German Federal Government Commissioner for SMEs, Gitta Connemann of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), may continue serving as Federal Chair of the German SME and Business Union. Under the law governing the legal status of parliamentary state secretaries, there is no conflict between her public office and her role within the organisation. The…

With the PPWR coming into effect on 12 August 2026, the definition of a producer and the scope of Extended Producer Responsibility will change. Retailers will become responsible for the packaging of their own brand products and imported goods.

Beginning in August 2026, the new EU Packaging Regulation may carry significant risks for retailers and producers. Non-compliance, such as failing to register, submitting incomplete packaging data, or violating system participation requirements, may result in fines ranging from 10,000 to 200,000 euros per infraction. Online retailers selling their own brand…

The container has arrived, and the goods are actually ready for sale – and yet, customs is missing some piece of information, the labelling is incorrect or the documentation is incomplete. The result: delays, rework, additional costs. In the worst case, your goods are held up. What is the best way to fix that problem permanently?

Small-scale producers and instrument makers are currently under scrutiny by the German Federal Environment Agency. Producers of electric musical instruments, such as guitars, may face fines reaching up to 100,000 euros. A current trend in practice shows why small suppliers in particular must now be especially vigilant. Find out now what part the upcoming…

With the impending enactment of the proposed WEEE amendment, retailers and producers are likely to encounter much tougher collection targets and expanded take-back obligations. Additionally, new proposals also address product responsibility and establish guidelines for managing raw materials.

Collection duties, higher pay rates, and ambitious collection goals – are unlimited charges becoming a risk? The German Federal Ministry for the Environment recently published a paper containing key aspects of producer responsibility for textiles. VERE identifies critical issues and advocates for fair competition with clear demands for lower costs and less…

The EU is planning new emergency rules for electrical equipment designed to enable faster market entry in the event of a crisis – including a time-limited presumption of conformity. However, this supposed ‘relaxation’ only applies where harmonised standards are lacking and does not alter the fundamental product compliance obligation for producers and…

The industry association Flexible Packaging Europe firmly opposes any efforts to revisit or postpone the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The Packaging Regulation is set to apply in all EU countries from 12 August 2026.

Under the EU Battery Regulation effective 18 August 2025, non-French battery producers are required to appoint an Authorised Representative to market batteries in France, as mere producer registration is no longer sufficient.

Modern AI tools appear to offer quick solutions to complex compliance issues such as labelling, standards research or marketability. But herein lies the risk: who takes on the responsibility for checking results, and who is liable if mistakes happen? After all, retailers and producers are required to operate efficiently and, most importantly, ensure their…