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German compliance answers / Compliance guides / Regulations

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What changed under the German battery law BattDG from 2025, and what Chinese sellers do

Short answer

Before batteries are first made available in Germany the producer must register by brand and battery category; a producer without a German establishment must also appoint an authorised representative. This also applies to batteries built into appliances. BattDG § 5 Abs. 1; BattDG § 40 Abs. 2; stiftung ear: Batterie oder Elektrogerät? Eine Anwendungshilfe

The key facts at a glance

The new law
BattDG was issued on 2025-09-30 and replaces the old battery law BattG. BattDG (Ausfertigung); BattDG (Stand-Zeile)
EU regulation
The producer responsibility chapter of Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 applies from 2025-08-18. Verordnung (EU) 2023/1542 Art. 96
Registered by
Brand plus battery category; there are 5 categories. BattDG § 5 Abs. 1; stiftung ear: Batterieregistrierung beantragen, Schritt 4
Representative
Mandatory without a German establishment; only one, in writing, in German. BattDG § 40 Abs. 2
Statutory fees
EUR 16.40 per registration, plus EUR 3.80 per registration number per quarter. ElektroGBattDGGebV Anlage Nr. 2.1; ElektroGBattDGGebV Anlage Nr. 2.2
Fine tier
Making a battery available in breach of the sales ban: up to EUR 100,000. BattDG § 60 Abs. 1 Nr. 1; BattDG § 60 Abs. 3
The 6 steps of battery registration1Check the product contains abatteryPower banks and appliances withbuilt-in batteries count2Appoint a German representativeIn writing, in German, only one3Choose a take-back organisation(OfH)Get the OfH number it issues4Enter brand, category, chemistryOne application per brand and category5OfH confirms, then submitWithout it the draft entry is deleted6Receive the notice and numberBatt-Reg.-Nr. DE, stated on offers andinvoices
Figure 1. The 6 steps of battery registration

What changed in 2025

The new BattDG is dated 2025-09-30 and replaces the old BattG. BattDG (Ausfertigung); BattDG (Stand-Zeile)

The old battery law BattG was in force in its old wording until the end of 2025-10-06. BattDG § 64 Abs. 5

Chapter VIII (producer responsibility) of the EU Battery Regulation applies from 2025-08-18. Verordnung (EU) 2023/1542 Art. 96

Old registrations carry over at most until 2026-01-15; businesses without a German establishment are excluded from that carry-over. BattDG § 64 Abs. 3; BattDG § 64 Abs. 4

If your shop sold batteries before 2025 on an old registration or a third party's, check each item: is the registration now re-established under the new law by brand and battery category?

Who registers and when

A producer registers before first making batteries available in Germany, by brand and battery category. BattDG § 5 Abs. 1

In online sales, merely offering batteries already counts as making them available. stiftung ear: Batterieregistrierung beantragen, FAQ

If the producer is not properly registered, distributors may not make its batteries available and fulfilment service providers may not store, pack, address or ship them. BattDG § 4 Abs. 3

A producer without a German establishment must appoint an authorised representative, who acts in its own name. BattDG § 40 Abs. 2

Registration steps (the registration authority's own procedure)

  1. Pick the battery category, one of 5: portable, starter, electric vehicle, industrial, or light means of transport. stiftung ear: Batterieregistrierung beantragen, Schritt 4
  2. Enter the chemical composition of all batteries in that category. stiftung ear: Batterieregistrierung beantragen, Schritt 4
  3. Whatever the category, you must take part in a producer responsibility organisation (OfH) and enter the OfH number it gives you. stiftung ear: Batterieregistrierung beantragen, Schritt 5
  4. The OfH must first confirm your participation before you can continue the application. stiftung ear: Batterieregistrierung beantragen, Schritt 5
  5. If the application is incomplete or the OfH does not confirm, the started entry is deleted. stiftung ear: Batterieregistrierung beantragen, FAQ
  6. The notice and number (Batt-Reg.-Nr. DE) arrive by email; state the number on offers and invoices. stiftung ear: Batterieregistrierung beantragen, Schritt 6

Review and fees

Once 12 weeks have passed since all required information was submitted, the registration is deemed granted (unless the law provides for an extension). BattDG § 5 Abs. 1 Satz 4

VAT is added to services that are subject to it. ElektroGBattDGGebV § 1 Abs. 1

Take-back organisation fees and representative fees are not in the table above; they vary by provider and this guide found no public price it could verify.

The next date: 2027-02-18

Article 11 of the Battery Regulation applies from 2027-02-18. Verordnung (EU) 2023/1542 Art. 96

BattDG lists a breach of Article 11 as an offence: not ensuring that a battery or cell can be easily removed or replaced. BattDG § 60 Abs. 2 Nr. 1

For new products with built-in batteries, ask the factory now whether the design can still be sold after 2027.

What this guide did not verify

Not verified here: take-back organisation fees, representative fees, and which battery category a given product belongs to.

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What sellers also ask

I sell power banks. Do I register for batteries?

Yes. A plain power bank falls under battery law only; one with an extra function such as a lamp, solar panel, wireless charging, AC socket, radio or alarm clock needs both battery and ElektroG registration. stiftung ear: Batterie oder Elektrogerät? Eine Anwendungshilfe

Are the representative and the take-back organisation the same thing?

No. The representative performs your producer duties; the take-back organisation (OfH) handles collection and funding, and you must join one when registering. BattDG § 40 Abs. 2; stiftung ear: Batterieregistrierung beantragen, Schritt 5

How much is the fine for not registering?

Making a battery available in breach of the sales ban falls in the fine tier of up to EUR 100,000. BattDG § 60 Abs. 1 Nr. 1; BattDG § 60 Abs. 3

Where does each statement come from?

Every source below is a legal text or an authority page; click through to compare.

  1. BattDG (Ausfertigung) · read 2026-10-18
  2. BattDG (Stand-Zeile) · read 2026-10-18
  3. BattDG § 4 Abs. 3 · read 2026-10-18
  4. BattDG § 40 Abs. 2 · read 2026-10-18
  5. BattDG § 5 Abs. 1 · read 2026-10-18
  6. BattDG § 5 Abs. 1 Satz 4 · read 2026-10-18
  7. BattDG § 60 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 · read 2026-10-18
  8. BattDG § 60 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 · read 2026-10-18
  9. BattDG § 60 Abs. 3 · read 2026-10-18
  10. BattDG § 64 Abs. 3 · read 2026-10-18
  11. BattDG § 64 Abs. 4 · read 2026-10-18
  12. BattDG § 64 Abs. 5 · read 2026-10-18
  13. ElektroGBattDGGebV Anlage Nr. 2.1 · read 2026-10-27
  14. ElektroGBattDGGebV Anlage Nr. 2.2 · read 2026-10-27
  15. ElektroGBattDGGebV § 1 Abs. 1 · read 2026-10-18
  16. Verordnung (EU) 2023/1542 Art. 96 · read 2026-10-18
  17. stiftung ear: Batterie oder Elektrogerät? Eine Anwendungshilfe · read 2026-10-19
  18. stiftung ear: Batterieregistrierung beantragen, FAQ · read 2026-10-27
  19. stiftung ear: Batterieregistrierung beantragen, Schritt 4 · read 2026-10-27
  20. stiftung ear: Batterieregistrierung beantragen, Schritt 5 · read 2026-10-27
  21. stiftung ear: Batterieregistrierung beantragen, Schritt 6 · read 2026-10-27

This guide summarises public legal texts and authority pages as general information. It is not legal advice. For your case, ask a licensed German lawyer.

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