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Operators of electronic marketplaces and fulfilment service providers are to establish in future whether the manufacturers of the products sold on their platform are registered with the EAR Foundation (German WEEE registration board). No manufacturer is to be allowed to enter the market without meeting its obligations. Competitive disadvantages for manufacturers who behave in a legally compliant manner are to be avoided.

On 19 March 2021, the Association for Take-back and Recycling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (VERE e.V.) submitted its opinion on the draft Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on batteries and waste batteries (EU Battery Regulation) to the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU). VERE urgently recommends taking the realities of the market and the possibilities of the vast majority of today's players into account.

We wish you and your families a peaceful Christmas and a happy new year full of new options we would like to make use of together with you – for your pleasure of legal and environmentally friendly sales.

On 15 October 2020, the VERE Association submitted its statement to the German Federal Ministry for the Environment on the draft bill of a First Act to Amend the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (“ElektroG3 draft bill”). VERE’s requests for amendment are quite manageable, since VERE considers the draft to be basically sensible and target-oriented; the bureaucratic effort is at least not much greater and there are opportunities to establish a qualitatively and quantitatively sophisticated collection and recycling/reuse system featuring increased market fairness.

On 11 March 2020, the EU Commission submitted an updated action plan for the recycling industry as part of the EU industrial strategy. VERE e.V. has begun alerting political decision-makers to the need to implement the planned measures under the aspect of maintaining fair competition.

The BMU, in coordination with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, has revoked the statement issued on 1 December 2009 to the effect that a joint take-back system for device batteries had been established.

We wish you and your families a peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

On 12 November 2019, the VERE Association, together with take-e-way GmbH, hosted by far the largest product responsibility forum of its kind.

We look forward to your acceptance of our invitation. Please register as follows no later than Monday, 9 September 2019.

In Germany, the Federal Network Agency has paved the way for consumers to be able to complain about geoblocking practices.