Spain
Packaging Licence Spain: The Complete Guide to Licensing & the Authorised Representative
Spain at a glance
Capital: Madrid
Population: 47.4 Mio.
EU member since: 1986
E-Commerce: € 35+ billion (2024)
Obligations
Legislation
🇪🇸 NATIONAL
Real Decreto 1055/2022 de envases y residuos de envases (Royal Decree on packaging and packaging waste)
Competent authority: MITECO – Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica (the Spanish environment ministry)
🇪🇺 EU REGULATION
PPWR (EU) 2025/40
Anwendung ab 12. August 2026
📄 Contents
This guide explains how to stay compliant if you place packaging on the Spanish market as a company or commercial trader but have no establishment in the country. We explain how to apply for the required NIF tax number, which providers offer a packaging licence in Spain, and how our partner Lizenzero makes it easy to appoint an authorised representative for your Spanish packaging licence.
⚖️ Legal basis for the packaging licence in Spain
If you need a packaging licence for Spain, you have to deal with several legal frameworks. Spanish waste law and the new EU Packaging Regulation define clear obligations for every company placing packaging on the Spanish market.
Spanish national law
The central legal basis for the Spanish packaging licence is Ley 7/2022 de residuos y suelos contaminados para una economía circular (Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy). This law of 8 April 2022 put extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging in Spain on a new footing.
In 2023, Decree 1055/2022 also came into force. It introduced a national producer register and restructured packaging licence costs. In addition, labelling obligations for packaging were introduced with effect from 1 January 2025, along with national collection and recycling targets for packaging.
EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR)
The new Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR) entered into force across the EU on 11 February 2025. It applies directly and brings important changes for the Spanish packaging licence:
- From 12 August 2026: Obligation to appoint an authorised representative for all foreign traders without an establishment in Spain (already mandatory under national law)
- From October 2027: Mandatory registration in national producer registers (also already mandatory in Spain)
- From 2030: Stricter requirements on recyclability and minimum recycled content
- Harmonised packaging labelling obligations across the entire EU
Key requirements for the packaging licence in Spain
The following core obligations arise from Spanish and European law:
- Registration with a recognised Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) such as Ecoembes or Ecovidrio
- Annual reporting of all packaging volumes placed on the market, broken down by material type
- Payment of licence fees based on the weight and material type of the packaging
- Appointment of an EPR authorised representative for foreign companies
- Labelling of packaging in line with Spanish and EU requirements
- Application for a Spanish tax number (NIF or NIE) for registration
🎯 Who is affected by the packaging licence in Spain?
The obligation to hold a Spanish packaging licence affects a wide range of companies. What matters is not where the company is based, but whether you make packaging available on the Spanish market for the first time.
If you can answer YES to at least one of these questions, you are required to obtain a packaging licence in Spain:
- Does your company place household packaging directly on the Spanish market, where it ends up as waste with private end consumers?
- Does your company sell in Spain to wholesalers, retailers or industry (B2B)?
- Does your company sell in Spain to commercial end users (e.g. restaurants, hospitals, schools and universities, offices and businesses)?
The Spanish packaging licence is required from the very first item of packaging. There are no de minimis thresholds.
These companies need a packaging licence in Spain:
🛍️ Online sellers & e-commerce
Foreign online shops that ship products to Spain – whether through their own webshop, Amazon, eBay or other marketplaces.
🏭 Manufacturers & producers
Companies that produce in Spain or pack their products there and place them on the market.
📦 Importers & distributors
Companies that import goods from abroad into Spain and place them on the market there for the first time.
🚚 Fulfilment & Amazon FBA
Sellers using Amazon FBA (Fulfilment by Amazon) or other fulfilment services in Spain who sell to Spanish customers via Amazon.
🏪 B2B suppliers
Wholesalers and B2B suppliers that deliver packed goods to Spanish business customers.
🔢 NIF/NIE tax number – a prerequisite for the packaging licence in Spain
Before you can take out a Spanish packaging licence, you must have a Spanish tax number. It is called the Número de Identificación Fiscal (NIF). For all non-Spanish companies, a special foreigner identification number (Número de Identidad de Extranjero – NIE) serves as the NIF. So for you: NIE = NIF.
How the NIF for foreign nationals (NIE) is structured:
- Structure: 1 letter + 7 digits + 1 letter
- Example: X1234567Y or Y1234567Z
- The first letter is typically “X”, “Y” or “Z”.
How to apply for the NIF
Allow enough time to apply for the NIF as a company or sole trader (approx. 2–6 weeks) and have current documents ready.
Step 1: Gather your documents
Make sure you have the following documents to hand:
- Certified extract from the commercial register (if registered)
- Trade registration (for sole traders and partnerships)
- Articles of association / statutes
- Valid identity documents for the management and all authorised representatives
Step 2: Apply for the NIF
You have several options for applying for a NIF, depending on how much effort and money you are willing to put in.
Option 1: Apply yourself
Foreign companies can apply for the NIF/NIE at the competent Spanish consulate. The application can only be submitted in person, and an appointment must be booked in advance. Afterwards you still have to register your NIE as a tax numberwith the Spanish tax authority, the Agencia Tributaria. Total cost: approx. €10–15
Option 2: Engage a lawyer or online service
Numerous lawyers and service providers specialise in applying for NIE/NIF numbers. This saves you the in-person consulate appointment and you usually receive your NIF faster, because the providers know the process inside out and there are no language barriers. Total cost: €150–450
Step 3: Receive your NIF
Depending on how you applied, you will ultimately receive your individual NIF number, which you need to take out a packaging licence and to appoint an authorised representative. With the NIF you can clearly identify your company and be listed in the national producer register.
📋 How to obtain your packaging licence for Spain
Spain has two central Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) for the packaging licence: Ecoembes and Ecovidrio. They are comparable to the dual systems in Germany. This is where the packaging licence is concluded.
Ecoembes
A Spanish non-profit organisation that organises the collection and recycling of packaging in the blue and yellow bins in Spain. Responsible for:
- Paper and carton
- Plastic packaging
- Metal packaging
- Composite packaging (e.g. Tetra Pak)
Prices:
Website: ecoembes.com
Ecovidrio
This Spanish recycling organisation has existed since 1998 and is responsible for all glass packaging. It runs the collection and recycling of glass waste in Spain.
Material to be licensed:
- Glass
Website: ecovidrio.com
The cost of the packaging licence is calculated on the basis of the annual volumes per material fraction that you place on the Spanish market. A distinction is made between household packaging and commercial packaging, depending on where your packaging ends up as waste.
Here is a rough guide to price levels:
- Paper/cardboard (household): €0.117 / kg
- Plastic (household): €1.267 / kg
- Aluminium (household): €0.060 / kg
We have linked the complete current price lists above.
You can book the packaging licence online with the respective provider. However, if you have no establishment in Spain and therefore need an authorised representative anyway, you can have them support you with taking out the licence.
👔 How to appoint an EPR authorised representative for Spain
All commercial parties placing packaging on the Spanish market without a registered office in Spain need not only the packaging licence but also an authorised representative.
What the authorised representative handles on your behalf:
- Registering your company with a Spanish PRO (e.g. Ecoembes) and concluding the packaging licence
- Registration in the Spanish producer register
- Submitting the legally required volume report
- All correspondence with the local authorities
- Checking that your packaging complies with labelling obligations
What the authorised representative does not handle:
- Payment of the packaging licence fees (you have to bear these costs on top). The authorised representative does, however, help you calculate and process the payment
The appointment is handled easily online through Lizenzero. Lizenzero first checks whether you are obligated under current Spanish law. To do this, you answer a few short questions about your business. If you need an authorised representative and a packaging licence, you can take both out directly afterwards.
After registration, you manage your entire Spanish packaging licence conveniently through the intuitive online portal: communicate directly with your authorised representative, keep track of all registration data with the authorities and Ecoembes, and be notified automatically when documents are needed for annual reporting.
Exclusive for Verpackungslizenz24.de users: Instead of the regular €299 you pay only €269 per year. Simply enter the voucher code VRPCKLIZ10 when booking. If you also ship to other EU countries, you can handle those through Lizenzero in a PPWR-compliant way too: Lizenzero offers its full service (licence + authorised representative) for all EU countries. It grants a volume discount of up to 15%, which applies on top of our 10% partner discount.
🤝 Partner solutions at a glance
We work with leading EPR service providers to make compliance around the Spanish packaging licence easier for you:
PPWR Full Service
Services:
✅ Free obligation check up front
✅ Registration with the Spanish system
✅ Authorised representative provided
✅ Monitoring of all EPR regulations
✅ Automated annual reporting
✅ Complete administration handled for you
✅ Intuitive, clearly structured platform
✅ English-language support
✅ Dedicated point of contact
❌ Licence costs apply on top
❌ Packaging EPR only, no additional categories available (batteries, WEEE, textiles, etc.)
✅ Also available for all other EU countries
One fixed price per country, regardless of packaging volume. Volume discounts from 3, 5 and 8 countries:
299.00 €
269.10 € per year and country
Save 10% with voucher code VRPCKLIZ10
PPWR Full Service
Services:
❌ No obligation check up front
✅ Registration with the Spanish system
✅ Authorised representative provided
✅ Monitoring of all EPR regulations
✅ Automated annual reporting
✅ Complete administration handled for you
✅ Intuitive, clearly structured platform
✅ English-language support
✅ Dedicated point of contact
❌ Licence costs apply on top
✅ Additional EPR categories available (batteries, WEEE, textiles, etc.)
✅ Also available for all other EU countries
The price per country is tiered by packaging volume:
274.00 €
from 246.60 € per year and country
Save 10% with voucher code verpackungslizenz24
EPR Premium service
Services:
✅ Individual obligation check by EPR experts
✅ Registration with the Spanish system
✅ Authorised representative provided
✅ Monitoring of all EPR regulations
✅ Automated annual reporting
✅ Complete administration handled for you
✅ Intuitive, clearly structured platform
✅ English-language support
✅ Dedicated point of contact
❌ Licence costs apply on top
✅ Additional EPR categories included
✅ Also available for all other EU countries
ecosistant puts together a fully personalised quote tailored to your company.
Individual quote
You receive a 10% discount when you enquire via the link below
❓ Packaging Licence Spain: frequently asked questions (FAQ)
We have compiled the most important questions and answers about the packaging licence for Spain here:
When do I need a packaging licence in Spain?
If you sell packaging or packed products in Spain, you need a Spanish packaging licence. Manufacturers, importers and foreign online sellers too are subject to this licensing obligation and must license their packaging with an approved Spanish recovery system (e.g. Ecoembes).
Do I need a packaging licence as an Amazon seller?
Yes, if you sell products via Amazon.es and place the packaging on the Spanish market for the first time. This applies in particular to:
- Amazon FBA with storage in Spain
- Direct shipping from Germany to Spain
- Pan-EU FBA (EU-wide storage)
Amazon actively checks EPR compliance and can suspend your listings if you cannot produce a valid registration number. The Spanish packaging licence is therefore essential for selling on Amazon.es.
What is a NIF number and what do I need it for?
The NIF number (Número de Identificación Fiscal) is the tax number in Spain. Foreign companies are issued a so-called NIE number (Número de Identidad de Extranjero), which is then used as the NIF number.
The NIF number is required to take out a packaging licence and to be entered in the national producer register.
What does a packaging licence for Spain cost?
The actual cost depends heavily on your packaging volumes. Small online sellers often pay only €50–100 per year, while large senders pay correspondingly more.
Current prices can be viewed on the Ecoembes website (the dual system in Spain).
For paper/cardboard, the price is around €0.12 per kg of packaging placed on the market. For plastic, expect roughly €1.27 per kg.
Can I apply for the Spanish packaging licence myself, or do I need a service provider?
In theory you can handle licensing with Ecoembes yourself. However, parts of the process are only available in Spanish. You could make mistakes or provide incorrect details, which could result in an improper registration.
Since you need an authorised representative in any case as a foreign company, we recommend running the packaging licence registration through that representative. We particularly recommend our partner Lizenzero, who offers this service for Spain from €299 per year. With our exclusive voucher code VRPCKLIZ10 you save 10% when booking and pay only €269 in the first year.
From when do I need an authorised representative in Spain?
Authorised representation is already mandatory under Spanish national law. ALL companies without a registered office, branch or permanent establishment in Spain must appoint an authorised representative if they place packaging on the Spanish market (B2B and B2C). The obligation also applies to producers that sell their products only to Spanish businesses, unless the Spanish customer expressly assumes the packaging obligations.
Who needs an authorised representative?
- Foreign online sellers without a Spanish branch
- Importers without a registered office in Spain
- All distance sellers into Spain
- Amazon FBA sellers without a local presence
- Companies selling packed products to Spanish businesses
Who does NOT need an authorised representative?
-
- Companies with a registered office in Spain
- Companies with a Spanish branch
What does an authorised representative in Spain cost?
We recommend arranging authorised representation through the Lizenzero platform. With Lizenzero’s full service you can appoint an authorised representative for Spain from €299 per year, entirely online and in just a few steps.
With our exclusive voucher code VRPCKLIZ10 you save 10% when booking and pay only €269 in the first year.
This guide does not constitute legal advice. We research carefully using official sources, but given the pace of Spanish legislation we cannot guarantee completeness or that the information is fully up to date. For a legally binding assessment, please contact an approved service provider or a lawyer.
*If a contract is concluded with a provider via a marked partner link, we receive a commission. This does not increase the price at the respective provider and you incur no additional costs. Discounts apply to the net value of goods, no cash payout is possible, one voucher per order and customer, retroactive redemption excluded.