Distance selling and producer responsibility abroad – Do you know your obligations?

With the growth of e-commerce, more and more Finnish companies are selling products directly to consumers in other EU countries. But did you know that as a distance seller, you may also have producer responsibility in the destination country?

What is distance selling?
Distance selling refers to a situation where a company sells products directly to an end-user located in another country – usually via online store. For example, if a Finnish company delivers packaged products to a German consumer, this constitutes as distance selling to Germany.

Producer responsibility crosses borders
Producer responsibility is not limited to within Finland. If you sell products via distance selling to other countries, you are often required to register to the producer responsibility system also in the target country – whether it concerns packaging, electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, or tires. In many countries, distance sellers bear the same responsibilities as local manufacturers or importers. In practice, this means you must organize the waste management and reporting for your products in the destination country as well.

Failure to comply may result in sanctions
Neglecting producer responsibility abroad may lead to:

• fines or administrative penalties
• a ban on marketing in the target country
• reputational damage and weakened customer relationships

How to proceed in practice:

• Identify the countries where you deliver products through distance selling
• Research the producer responsibility systems in the destination countries (e.g., packaging, WEEE, batteries)
• Register with local systems if necessary – or use international partners who can assist with registration
• Keep records of quantities delivered and report regularly to authorities

Sumi also helps with international producer responsibility management
At Sumi, we help companies identify and fulfill their producer responsibility obligations – including in cross-border distance selling. If you’re unsure whether producer responsibility applies to your business, contact us. We’re happy to help!

Read also about Sumi’s Nordic PRO collaboration, which allows you to manage your producer responsibility in all Nordic countries through a single point of contact.