Official statute
Penalties for missing EPR duties
What the statute says if a producer does not register, does not report, or does not pay. Figures are statutory ranges, not a forecast of what an authority will actually impose.
This is not legal advice. A maximum is not the fine you will get: authorities weigh intent, volume and the benefit of non-compliance. Several countries can also stop sales, seize goods or ban the activity without sending anyone to prison.
91 rows
| Country | Duty | Breach | Statutory consequence | Custody | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Not paid | Contravention of mandatory product-stewardship requirements (Commonwealth level; packaging CDS also sits in state law) | Civil penalty up to 1,000 penalty units for bodies corporate or 200 for individuals (regulations under PSA s. 38); offence options up to 50 penalty units. No imprisonment on the civil-penalty track.Product Stewardship Act 2011, s. 38 | No custody | Federal Register of Legislation · PSA 2011Read 2026-09-23 |
| Austria | Not paid | No or insufficient participation in a collection and recovery scheme | Administrative fine from €450 to €8,400. A person trading commercially in waste management faces a minimum of €2,100. No imprisonment in this paragraph. The higher band up to €100,000 applies to the reusable-packaging offer, not to scheme participation.Waste Management Act 2002 § 79(2), including § 13a(3) and § 13g(2) to (4) | No custody | RIS · AWG 2002 § 79Read 2026-09-21 |
| Austria | Not registered | Registration, notification or reporting duty not met | Administrative fine up to €3,400. The offence applies only where the act is not a criminal-court matter or subject to a stricter administrative fine. No imprisonment in this paragraph.Waste Management Act 2002 § 79(3), including § 13g(3) to (5) | No custody | RIS · AWG 2002 § 79Read 2026-09-21 |
| Belgium | Not paid | Take-back obligation under Article 6 not met | For natural persons: imprisonment from one month to one year and/or a fine of €1,000 to €2,000,000. For the entrusted legal person: a fine of €1,000 to €2,000,000.Interregional Cooperation Agreement of 4 November 2008, Art. 6 and Art. 32(2) | Imprisonment | WALLEX · Accord de coopération 4.11.2008Read 2026-09-21 |
| Belgium | Not reported | Annual packaging declaration under Article 18(1) not submitted | For natural persons: imprisonment from eight days to one month and/or a fine of €100 to €5,000. For the entrusted legal person: a fine of €100 to €5,000.Interregional Cooperation Agreement of 4 November 2008, Art. 18 and Art. 32(4) | Imprisonment | WALLEX · Accord de coopération 4.11.2008Read 2026-09-21 |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | Not reported | Missing, incorrect or incomplete annual report to the Fund/system operator, or failure to enter data (FBiH Regulation OG 104/22 Art. 19) | Legal person: BAM 6,000–8,000 (repeat BAM 9,000–10,000); responsible person: BAM 2,000–4,000 (repeat BAM 4,500–5,000). No imprisonment in Art. 19.Regulation on fee calculation and payment criteria (FBiH OG 104/22), Art. 19 | No custody | Ekopak / FBiH Official Gazette 104/22Read 2026-09-23 |
| Brazil | Not paid | Failure to meet reverse-logistics duties for packaging (PNRS / Decree 12.688/2025 for plastic packaging) | Administrative sanctions under Law 9.605/1998 and Decree 6.514/2008, including fines typically from BRL 5,000 to BRL 50 million, with possible activity suspension. No automatic imprisonment for this administrative offence.Decree No. 12.688/2025, Art. 40; Law No. 9.605/1998 | No custody | Planalto · Decreto 12.688/2025Read 2026-09-23 |
| Bulgaria | Not registered | Timely application for public-register entry of a person placing packaged goods on the market not filed | Property sanction for sole traders or legal persons of BGN 5,000 to 10,000. No imprisonment in this offence.Waste Management Act, Art. 45(1)(13) and Art. 147(1)(1) | No custody | lex.bg · Закон за управление на отпадъцитеRead 2026-09-21 |
| Bulgaria | Not reported | Required information or records under the EPR and product-fee rules not provided or kept | Property sanction of BGN 2,000 to 6,000; doubled for a repeat offence. No imprisonment.Waste Management Act, Art. 135(1)(2) and (5) | No custody | lex.bg · Закон за управление на отпадъцитеRead 2026-09-21 |
| Canada | Not paid | Contravention of Ontario blue-box / EPR duties (collection, management or related rules) under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act | RPRA administrative penalty up to CAD $1 million per contravention (base amount plus economic benefit under O. Reg. 558/22). No imprisonment under this administrative tool.Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016, s. 89; O. Reg. 558/22 | No custody | ontario.ca · O. Reg. 558/22Read 2026-09-23 |
| Chile | Not paid | Failure to meet REP duties (including collection/recovery targets, information duties and scheme obligations) under Law 20.920 | Written warning or fine up to 10,000 UTA (most serious tier); serious breaches up to 5,000 UTA, minor up to 1,000 UTA. Imprisonment only for hazardous-waste trafficking (Art. 44), not ordinary REP breaches.Law No. 20.920, Arts. 39–40 | No custody | BCN · Ley 20.920Read 2026-09-23 |
| China | Not paid | Failure to comply with mandatory standards restricting excessive product packaging (Solid Waste Law Art. 105) | Order to correct; if refused, fine of RMB 2,000–20,000, or RMB 20,000–100,000 in serious cases. No imprisonment in Art. 105.Law of the PRC on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Wastes, Art. 105 | No custody | SAMR · 固体废物污染环境防治法 Art. 105Read 2026-09-23 |
| Colombia | Not registered | Failure to meet packaging REP/environmental duties (plan/reports under Res. 1407/2018) or breach of Law 2232 on single-use plastics | Under Law 2232 Art. 25: fine of 100–50,000 monthly minimum wages (SMMLV), seizure, temporary (max 1 month) or permanent closure. General environmental track: Law 1333 Art. 40 (as amended by Law 2387/2024) up to 100,000 SMMLV. No imprisonment in these administrative offences.Law 2232/2022 Art. 25; Law 1333/2009 Art. 40 (Law 2387/2024); Res. 1407/2018 | No custody | Función Pública · Ley 2387/2024 / Ley 1333 Art. 40Read 2026-09-23 |
| Croatia | Not registered | No registration in the extended producer responsibility producer register | Fine for legal persons of HRK 10,000 to 100,000. At the fixed conversion rate of HRK 7.53450 = €1 that is about €1,327 to €13,272. No imprisonment in this offence.Waste Management Act, Art. 92(1)(7) and Art. 165(1)(36) | No custody | Narodne novine · NN 84/2021Read 2026-09-21 |
| Croatia | Not reported | Required data not submitted to the EPR producer register | Same band as for missing registration: HRK 10,000 to 100,000 for legal persons (about €1,327 to €13,272). No imprisonment.Waste Management Act, Art. 92(1)(7) and Art. 165(1)(36) | No custody | Narodne novine · NN 84/2021Read 2026-09-21 |
| Cyprus | Not paid | Packaging-waste management costs under Article 9(1) not borne | A fine of up to €85,500 or imprisonment for up to three years, or both.Packaging and Packaging Waste Law 32(I)/2002, Arts. 9(1) and 26 | Imprisonment | CyLaw · Law 32(I)/2002 Art. 26Read 2026-09-21 |
| Czechia | Not paid | Recovery of packaging waste under § 12 not ensured | A fine of up to CZK 10,000,000. No imprisonment. Certain single-use plastic packaging in Annex 4, Part B is measured differently: CZK 1,000,000 for each percentage point by which the minimum take-back level is missed.Act No. 477/2001 Coll. § 44(2)(k) and § 45(1)(e); single-use plastic: § 44(2)(h) and § 45(2) | No custody | Zákony pro lidi · 477/2001 Sb.Read 2026-09-21 |
| Czechia | Not registered | No application for entry in the list of persons obliged to take packaging back | A fine of up to CZK 500,000. The Act does not provide imprisonment for this administrative offence.Act No. 477/2001 Coll. § 44(2)(o) and § 45(1)(b) | No custody | Zákony pro lidi · 477/2001 Sb.Read 2026-09-21 |
| Czechia | Not reported | Missing or inadequate packaging records under § 15 | A fine of up to CZK 1,000,000. No imprisonment in this administrative offence.Act No. 477/2001 Coll. § 44(2)(q) and § 45(1)(c) | No custody | Zákony pro lidi · 477/2001 Sb.Read 2026-09-21 |
| Denmark | Not registered | Packaging made available without registration as a producer or collective scheme | A fine, with no statutory cap stated. Where the breach is intentional or grossly negligent and also causes environmental harm or danger, or an economic advantage including savings, the penalty can rise to imprisonment for up to 2 years. Companies can be criminally liable under chapter 5 of the Criminal Code.Executive Order No. 323 of 26 March 2025 § 119, item 22, subsections 2 and 3 | Imprisonment | Retsinformation · BEK nr. 323 af 26/03/2025Read 2026-09-21 |
| Denmark | Not reported | Quantity report omitted or submitted falsely | The same scale as for missing registration: a fine with no stated cap, rising to imprisonment for up to 2 years if the breach is intentional or grossly negligent and causes environmental harm or an economic advantage, including savings.Executive Order No. 323 of 26 March 2025 § 119, item 25, subsection 2 | Imprisonment | Retsinformation · BEK nr. 323 af 26/03/2025Read 2026-09-21 |
| EL | Not paid | Producer obligations under Article 11(1) not met, including financing | Administrative fine equal to the minimum contributions that would have been payable to a collective scheme for the infringement period.Law 4819/2021, Art. 11(1) and Art. 69(1) | No custody | Kodiko · Ν. 4819/2021Read 2026-09-21 |
| EL | Not registered | No entry in the national producer register ΕΜΠΑ | Administrative fine of €100 to €500,000. No imprisonment in Article 69(2).Law 4819/2021, Art. 11(5) and Art. 69(2) | No custody | Kodiko · Ν. 4819/2021Read 2026-09-21 |
| Estonia | Not reported | Continuous records of packaging and packaging waste not kept | Fine of up to 200 penalty units; for legal persons, up to €100,000. No imprisonment in this section.Packaging Act sections 24 and 30¹ | No custody | Riigi Teataja · PakendiseadusRead 2026-09-21 |
| Finland | Not registered | No application for acceptance into the producer register | Negligence fee: 1% of the previous accounting period's turnover, at least €500 and at most €500,000. No imprisonment in this section.Waste Act 646/2011, sections 101, 131 and 132 | No custody | Finlex · Jätelaki 646/2011Read 2026-09-21 |
| Finland | Not reported | Records or the required summary under section 54 not kept or not submitted | Negligence fee of €500 to €10,000. No imprisonment in this section.Waste Act 646/2011, sections 54, 131 and 132 | No custody | Finlex · Jätelaki 646/2011Read 2026-09-21 |
| France | Not paid | EPR duty not met, in particular no contribution to an eco-organism | Administrative fine up to €1,500 per unit or tonne for a natural person and €7,500 for a legal person, plus a daily penalty of up to €20,000. The amount takes account of volume, duration and the highest contribution in the stream. No imprisonment in this article.Environmental Code, Art. L541-9-5 | No custody | Légifrance · Code de l'environnementRead 2026-09-21 |
| France | Not registered | Not on the EPR register, blank or false data, or missing unique identifier | Administrative fine up to €30,000. This register-specific fine is not a prison sentence; it can sit alongside the contribution penalty.Environmental Code, Art. L541-9-5 para. 3 | No custody | Légifrance · Code de l'environnementRead 2026-09-21 |
| France | Not reported | Refusing the information required by Art. L541-9 III, or giving inaccurate information | Criminal offence: four years' imprisonment and a €150,000 fine. In an organised group, eight years and €500,000. This is the criminal information offence, not the administrative register fine.Environmental Code, Art. L541-46 I 1° and VII | Imprisonment | Légifrance · Code de l'environnementRead 2026-09-21 |
| Georgia | Not registered | Operating without registration in the electronic EPR registry or without joining/establishing an EPR organisation (Waste Management Code Art. 441) | Producer without an EPR organisation or registry entry: GEL 5,000 (Art. 441(2)–(3)). Distributor placing products of unregistered producers: GEL 2,000 (para. 1). No imprisonment in Art. 441.Waste Management Code of Georgia, Art. 441 | No custody | Matsne · Waste Management Code Art. 441Read 2026-09-23 |
| Germany | Not paid | No or late participation in at least one compliance scheme | Administrative fine up to €200,000 (§ 66(1) no. 3, (3)). Distributors may not make packaging available that is not covered by a scheme (§ 12(3)). No imprisonment.VerpackDG § 66(1) no. 3 and (3), § 7(1), § 12(3) | No custody | gesetze-im-internet.de · VerpackDG § 66Read 2026-09-21 |
| Germany | Not registered | Missing, incorrect, incomplete or late registration with the Central Agency Packaging Register | Administrative fine up to €100,000 (§ 66(1) no. 1, (3)). Distributors may not make unregistered packaging available (§ 12(3)). No imprisonment. The Packaging Act ended on 11 August 2026; the Packaging Law Implementation Act applies from 12 August 2026.VerpackDG § 66(1) no. 1 and (3), § 6(1), § 12(3) | No custody | gesetze-im-internet.de · VerpackDG § 66Read 2026-09-21 |
| Germany | Not reported | Missing or defective data report or declaration of completeness | Data report under § 9: fine up to €10,000. Declaration of completeness or mass-flow verification: up to €100,000. Both are administrative offences, with no imprisonment.VerpackDG § 66(1) nos. 6 and 7, (3), §§ 9 and 10 | No custody | gesetze-im-internet.de · VerpackDG § 66Read 2026-09-21 |
| Hong Kong SAR China | Not paid | Contravention of the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance (e.g. plastic shopping bag charge / regulated products) | Fine on summary conviction (Ordinance s. 28 et seq., product-dependent). No general imprisonment solely for missing the shopping-bag levy.Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance (Cap. 603) | No custody | eLegislation · Cap. 603Read 2026-09-23 |
| Hungary | Not paid | EPR fee unpaid because the quantity declaration was omitted | The same measure as for a missing report: quantity multiplied by one half of the highest applicable unit fee.Gov. Decree 156/2025 (VI. 23.), Annex 4 item 34 | No custody | Jogtár · 156/2025. (VI. 23.) Korm. rendeletRead 2026-09-21 |
| Hungary | Not registered | Producer registration, notification or other information duty not met | Waste-management fine of HUF 500,000. No imprisonment in this decree.Gov. Decree 156/2025 (VI. 23.), Annex 4 item 3, with Gov. Decree 80/2023 | No custody | Jogtár · 156/2025. (VI. 23.) Korm. rendeletRead 2026-09-21 |
| Hungary | Not reported | No quantity report for circular products placed on the market | Fine: actual quantity multiplied by one half of the highest applicable unit fee. No imprisonment.Gov. Decree 156/2025 (VI. 23.), Annex 4 item 34 | No custody | Jogtár · 156/2025. (VI. 23.) Korm. rendeletRead 2026-09-21 |
| India | Not registered | Producers, importers or brand owners (PIBOs) not registered on the central CPCB EPR portal for plastic packaging | Environmental compensation per tonne under CPCB guidelines (Cat. I ₹2,900/t, Cat. II ₹5,000/t, Cats III/IV ₹7,900/t; 2×/3× on repeat). Additional EPA penalties may apply. No imprisonment in the EC guideline itself.Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (as amended), Rule 18 / Schedule II; CPCB EC Guidelines 2024 | No custody | CPCB · EPR Plastic FAQs / PWM RulesRead 2026-09-23 |
| Indonesia | Not paid | Breach of producer/importer duties to reduce waste from products and packaging (PP 81/2012 and subsequent EPR rules) | Administrative penalties under the Environmental Protection Law (Law 32/2009) and implementing rules: fines and/or operational restrictions, scaled by severity. No blanket imprisonment solely for missing scheme fees.Law No. 32/2009; Government Regulation No. 81/2012 | No custody | BPK · PP 81/2012Read 2026-09-23 |
| Ireland | Not paid | Duty to recover and recycle packaging waste not met | Summary conviction only: a class A fine (not exceeding €5,000) or imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both. Regulation 10 is outside the indictment band of up to €500,000.S.I. No. 282/2014, regulation 10, penalty in S.I. No. 542/2015, regulation 35(4)(a) | Imprisonment | Irish Statute Book · S.I. No. 542/2015Read 2026-09-21 |
| Ireland | Not registered | Major producer without a local-authority certificate of registration | On summary conviction, a class A fine (under the Fines Act 2010 not exceeding €5,000) or imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both. On indictment, a fine of up to €500,000 or imprisonment for up to 3 years, or both. Registration is not regulation 10 or 15, so it falls in this higher band.European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014, S.I. No. 282/2014, regulation 13, penalty in S.I. No. 542/2015, regulation 35(4)(b) | Imprisonment | Irish Statute Book · S.I. No. 542/2015Read 2026-09-21 |
| Ireland | Not reported | Implementation plan, annual report or quarterly report not submitted | Summary conviction only: a class A fine (not exceeding €5,000) or imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both. Regulation 15 is not triable on indictment.S.I. No. 282/2014, regulation 15, penalty in S.I. No. 542/2015, regulation 35(4)(a) | Imprisonment | Irish Statute Book · S.I. No. 542/2015Read 2026-09-21 |
| Israel | Not paid | Failure to meet Packaging Law duties (registration, reporting, recycling targets) | Administrative fine under the Packaging Law; continued non-compliance may trigger further enforcement. No blanket imprisonment for first-time fee defaults.Packaging Law 5771-2011 | No custody | Nevo · Packaging LawRead 2026-09-23 |
| Italy | Not paid | Neither an own system, nor consortium membership, nor a packaging return system | Administrative fine from €15,500 to €46,500 for the producer. The same fine applies to users who do not meet their duty. No imprisonment in this paragraph.Legislative Decree 152/2006, Art. 261(2) | No custody | Gazzetta Ufficiale · Codice dell'ambienteRead 2026-09-21 |
| Japan | Not paid | Violation of a ministerial order to fulfil recycling (re-commercialisation) duties of a designated manufacturer/user under the Containers and Packaging Recycling Act | Fine of up to ¥1,000,000 (Art. 46). Reporting/record-keeping breaches: up to ¥200,000 (Art. 48). No imprisonment in these offences.Containers and Packaging Recycling Act, Arts. 46 and 48 | No custody | e-Gov · 容器包装リサイクル法Read 2026-09-23 |
| Kazakhstan | Not paid | Failure to fulfil extended producer (importer) obligations (no operator contract/application, or missing/late utilisation payment) | First offence: warning. Repeat within one year: fine of 10 MCI (natural person), 30 MCI (small business), 50 MCI (medium), 200 MCI (large) under Administrative Code Art. 344-1. No imprisonment in Art. 344-1.Kazakhstan Administrative Offences Code Art. 344-1; Environmental Code Arts. 386/390 | No custody | zakon.uchet.kz · КоАП Art. 344-1Read 2026-09-23 |
| Kenya | Not registered | Free-riding / not belonging to an EPR compliance scheme, or placing products for an unregistered producer (EPR Regulations 2024 reg. 21) | On conviction: fine of KES 2–4 million or imprisonment up to 4 years or both (Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022 s. 32; reg. 22).Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022 s. 32; EPR Regulations 2024 regs 21–22 | Imprisonment | Kenya Law · EPR Regulations 2024Read 2026-09-23 |
| Latvia | Not reported | Annual packaging report not submitted, improperly submitted or submitted falsely | Natural person: warning or fine up to 140 units (up to €700). Legal person: 14 to 2,800 units (€70 to €14,000). One unit = €5. No imprisonment.Cabinet Regulation No. 983 para. 16; Administrative Penalties Law s. 3(1); Administrative Liability Law s. 16(2) | No custody | Likumi.lv · Administratīvo sodu likumsRead 2026-09-21 |
| Lithuania | Not registered | No registration in the Register of Producers and Importers | Against responsible persons: a warning or a fine of up to €1,450. No imprisonment in this Code of Administrative Offences article.Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 248 | No custody | e-Seimas · Administracinių nusižengimų kodeksasRead 2026-09-21 |
| Lithuania | Not reported | Packaging accounting or reporting requirements breached | Fine against responsible persons of €120 to €850. No imprisonment.Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 248 | No custody | e-Seimas · Administracinių nusižengimų kodeksasRead 2026-09-21 |
| Luxembourg | Not reported | Reliable packaging and packaging-waste data under Article 12(2) not submitted to the Environmental Administration | Administrative fine of €250 to €10,000. No imprisonment in Article 20.Law of 21 March 2017 on packaging and packaging waste, Arts. 12(2) and 20 | No custody | Legilux · Loi du 21 mars 2017Read 2026-09-21 |
| Malaysia | Not paid | Breach of producer duties under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 / related regulations | Fine and/or imprisonment under Act 672 depending on the offence (e.g. failure to comply with a direction). Pure fee arrears are typically treated as administrative contraventions.Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672) | Short detention | AGC · Act 672Read 2026-09-23 |
| Malta | Not registered | Initial registration or annual renewal as a packaging producer omitted | Fine of €750 per tonne of packaging placed on the market during the period of non-registration. No imprisonment in this schedule offence.Waste Management (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations, reg. 21(7) and Schedule 9 | No custody | Legislation Malta · S.L. 549.43Read 2026-09-21 |
| Malta | Not reported | Packaging information, audit reports or statements of compliance required on annual renewal not submitted | First conviction: €1,164.69 to €2,329.37. Second or subsequent: €2,329.37 to €4,658.75, imprisonment for up to two years, or both.Waste Management (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations, regs. 22, 27 and 28 | Imprisonment | Legislation Malta · S.L. 549.43Read 2026-09-21 |
| Mexico | Not registered | Failure to file Extended Producer Responsibility / Gestión Circular reports (LGEC Art. 44; sanctions under LGEEPA) | Administrative sanctions under LGEEPA Arts. 171 and 173: graduated fines, temporary or permanent closure, suspension/revocation of authorisations, and administrative arrest up to 36 hours.General Circular Economy Law Art. 44; LGEEPA Arts. 171 and 173 | Short detention | Cámara de Diputados · LGPGIR / LGEC (DOF 19-01-2026)Read 2026-09-23 |
| Moldova | Not registered | Failure to register on the producer list / failure to meet EPR duties under Law 209/2016 (Contravention Code Art. 154¹) | Fine typically 200–300 conventional units for legal persons for missing registration/scheme (1 unit = MDL 50); reporting breaches often 600–900 units for legal persons. Activity ban of 3 months–1 year may also apply. No imprisonment in this contravention offence.Contravention Code Art. 154¹; Law No. 209/2016 | No custody | Ministerul Mediului · REP-Pflichten / Art. 154¹Read 2026-09-23 |
| Montenegro | Not registered | Placing products on the market without joining an organised EPR take-back/collection scheme, or failing producer duties (Arts. 14–16 / 65) | Fine for legal persons €1,000–40,000 (Art. 112(1) pts 15–16); responsible person €1,000–4,000; entrepreneurs €1,000–6,000. No imprisonment in Art. 112.Waste Management Act (OG MNE 34/2024), Art. 112 | No custody | Službeni list CG · Zakon o upravljanju otpadomRead 2026-09-23 |
| Netherlands | Not reported | Breach of packaging rules under Environmental Management Act Art. 9.5.2 (Packaging Management Decree 2014) | Economic offence. If intentional: imprisonment for up to two years, community service or a fourth-category fine (since 1 January 2026 not exceeding €27,500). Otherwise: detention for up to six months, community service or a fourth-category fine.Environmental Management Act Art. 9.5.2; Economic Offences Act Arts. 1a and 6; Criminal Code Art. 23 | Imprisonment | wetten.nl · Wet op de economische delictenRead 2026-09-21 |
| New Zealand | Not paid | Contravention of product-stewardship regulations under the Waste Minimisation Act (including s. 22) | On summary conviction: fine not exceeding NZ$100,000 (s. 65). No imprisonment in this offence.Waste Minimisation Act 2008, s. 65 | No custody | legislation.govt.nz · Waste Minimisation Act 2008Read 2026-09-23 |
| North Macedonia | Not paid | Packaging management fee not paid on time, or national collection/recycling targets not met (Packaging Law Art. 51) | Fine for legal persons by company size: micro €18,000–20,000, small €36,000–40,000, medium €110,000–120,000, large €180,000–200,000 (denar equivalent). No imprisonment in Art. 51.Law on Packaging and Packaging Waste Management, Art. 51 | No custody | Zakon za pakuvanje · Art. 51Read 2026-09-23 |
| Norway | Not paid | No approved producer-responsibility company or deposit-return system | An administrative infringement fee. Companies up to 15 times the national-insurance basic amount, natural persons up to twice that amount, using the basic amount at the time of the breach. Chapter 18B does not provide imprisonment. The regulation states no krone figure.Waste Regulations § 7-5 and § 7-25, measured under chapter 18B | No custody | Lovdata · avfallsforskriften kap. 18BRead 2026-09-21 |
| Peru | Not paid | Failure to meet packaging/container EPR duties under Legislative Decree 1278 and related decrees | Administrative fine under the environmental enforcement regime (OEFA / MINAM): graduated UIT-based fines; serious breaches may trigger operational restrictions. No imprisonment for purely administrative EPR defaults.Legislative Decree 1278; packaging EPR regulations | No custody | gob.pe · D. Leg. 1278Read 2026-09-23 |
| Philippines | Not registered | Failure to register as an obliged enterprise under Sec. 44-E of RA 9003 (EPR Act of 2022) | Fine of ₱5–10 million (1st offence), ₱10–15 million (2nd), ₱15–20 million plus automatic business-permit suspension (3rd). No imprisonment in Sec. 49(g).RA 9003 Sec. 49(g), as amended by RA 11898 | No custody | Lawphil · RA 11898Read 2026-09-23 |
| Poland | Not paid | Packaging recycling obligation not met | A product fee becomes due; this is not imprisonment. The statutory maximum rate is PLN 4.50 per kilogram, or PLN 25 per kilogram where the Art. 21a duty is missed. A regulation sets the actual rates below that cap.Packaging and Packaging Waste Act, Arts. 34 and 35, Dz.U. 2026 item 619 | No custody | Dziennik Ustaw 2026 poz. 619Read 2026-09-21 |
| Poland | Not registered | Operating without the required BDO entry, or no registration application | Operating without an entry: an administrative penalty from PLN 5,000 to PLN 1,000,000. A missing, late or untrue application is a petty offence punishable by arrest or a fine. Arrest here is short detention under petty-offence law, not imprisonment under the Criminal Code.Waste Act, as stated by BDO (bdo.mos.gov.pl) | Short detention | BDO · Ministerstwo Klimatu i ŚrodowiskaRead 2026-09-21 |
| Poland | Not registered | Distributing goods of a producer who is not on the register | Administrative penalty from PLN 500 to PLN 20,000. No imprisonment. The prohibition itself is in Art. 41.Packaging and Packaging Waste Act, Art. 41, Art. 56(1)(11), Art. 57(4) | No custody | Dziennik Ustaw 2026 poz. 619Read 2026-09-21 |
| Portugal | Not paid | Products or packaging placed on the market without choosing a management system under Article 7 | A very serious environmental administrative offence. Legal persons: €24,000 to €144,000 for negligence, €240,000 to €5,000,000 for intent. Natural persons: €10,000 to €100,000 for negligence, €20,000 to €200,000 for intent. This administrative offence does not provide imprisonment.Decree-Law 152-D/2017, consolidated text, Art. 90(1)(a); amounts in Law 50/2006, Art. 22(4), as amended by Law 114/2015 | No custody | Diário da República · DL 152-D/2017 und Lei 50/2006Read 2026-09-21 |
| Romania | Not paid | No quantity records and extended producer responsibility not implemented for packaging placed on the market | A fine from 30,000 to 50,000 lei, unless the facts amount to a criminal offence. The Act states no term of imprisonment for this breach.Law No. 249/2015, art. 16(4)(a) and art. 26(1)(e) | No custody | Portal Legislativ · Legea 249/2015Read 2026-09-21 |
| Serbia | Not registered | Breach of Packaging Act duties (including placing packaging on the market without the prescribed obligations, or missing the annual report) | Fine for legal persons RSD 500,000–1,000,000; responsible person RSD 25,000–50,000; entrepreneurs RSD 250,000–500,000 or imprisonment up to 30 days (Art. 51).Law on Packaging and Packaging Waste, Art. 51 | Imprisonment | Paragraf · Zakon o ambalaži i ambalažnom otpaduRead 2026-09-23 |
| Singapore | Not reported | Missing or late packaging reporting under Resource Sustainability Act s. 20 | First conviction: fine up to S$5,000. Subsequent: fine up to S$10,000 or imprisonment up to 3 months or both; continuing offence adds up to S$1,000 per day.Resource Sustainability Act 2019, s. 20(4) | Imprisonment | Singapore Statutes Online · RSA 2019Read 2026-09-23 |
| Slovakia | Not paid | Reserved duties under § 27(4)(e), (f), (g), (j) or (k) or § 27(5) or (6) not met | A fine of €2,000 to €250,000. No imprisonment in § 117.Act No. 79/2015 Coll. § 27 and § 117(5) | No custody | Slov-Lex · 79/2015 Z. z.Read 2026-09-21 |
| Slovakia | Not registered | No application for entry in the register of producers of reserved products before placing on the market | A fine of €1,200 to €120,000. No imprisonment in § 117.Act No. 79/2015 Coll. § 30(1) and § 117(3) | No custody | Slov-Lex · 79/2015 Z. z.Read 2026-09-21 |
| Slovenia | Not paid | Environmental tax on packaging not paid within the deadline | Fine of €2,000 for a legal person or sole trader; €600 for the responsible person. No imprisonment.Decree on the environmental tax for packaging waste generation, Arts. 7 and 13 | No custody | PISRS · okoljska dajatev embalažaRead 2026-09-21 |
| Slovenia | Not registered | Commencement, change or cessation of packaging-related taxable activity not notified to the Financial Administration | Fine of €2,000 for a legal person or sole trader; €600 for the responsible person. No imprisonment.Decree on the environmental tax for packaging waste generation, Arts. 9 and 13 | No custody | PISRS · okoljska dajatev embalažaRead 2026-09-21 |
| South Africa | Not registered | Contravention of the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations 2020 (including registration and scheme duties under regs 4 ff.) | On conviction: imprisonment for up to 15 years, an appropriate fine, or both. Registration may also be revoked.EPR Regulations, 2020 (GN R.1184), regs 12 and 13 | Imprisonment | LawLibrary · EPR Regulations 2020Read 2026-09-23 |
| South Korea | Not paid | Failure to meet the recycling obligation; imposition of recycling dues (재활용부과금) | Recycling dues = cost of the unmet quantity plus up to 30%. Late payment: 2% surcharge within one week or 5% thereafter, then collection as for delinquent national taxes. No imprisonment in Art. 19.Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources, Art. 19 | No custody | KLRI · Recycling Promotion Act Art. 19Read 2026-09-23 |
| Spain | Not paid | Placing products on the market without the financial EPR duties | Without a serious impact on health or the environment: a serious offence, €2,001 to €100,000 (€20,001 to €600,000 for hazardous waste), and the goods may be seized. With a serious impact: a very serious offence, €100,001 to €3,500,000 (from €600,001 for hazardous waste) and a ban on the activity for one to ten years. No imprisonment; the fine may rise to twice the benefit obtained.Law 7/2022, Art. 108.2.ñ, Art. 108.3.p and Art. 109 | No custody | BOE · Ley 7/2022Read 2026-09-21 |
| Spain | Not registered | Failure to register in the Register of Product Producers | Serious administrative offence: €2,001 to €100,000, or €20,001 to €600,000 for hazardous waste. If the fine is below the benefit obtained, it may be raised to twice that benefit. A ban on the activity of less than one year is possible. No imprisonment.Law 7/2022, Art. 108.3.ac and Art. 109 | No custody | BOE · Ley 7/2022Read 2026-09-21 |
| Spain | Not reported | Failure to report products placed on the Spanish market | The same serious administrative offence as a missing registration: €2,001 to €100,000, or €20,001 to €600,000 for hazardous waste, and the fine may be raised to twice the benefit obtained. No imprisonment.Law 7/2022, Art. 108.3.ac and Art. 109 | No custody | BOE · Ley 7/2022Read 2026-09-21 |
| Sweden | Not paid | No producer-responsibility organisation engaged or operated | Fixed environmental sanction charge of SEK 30,000. This is an administrative charge, not imprisonment and not a discretionary criminal fine.Ordinance (2012:259) on environmental sanction charges s. 20 a, for Ordinance (2022:1274) ch. 4 ss. 1 and 3 | No custody | Sveriges riksdag · SFS 2012:259Read 2026-09-21 |
| Sweden | Not reported | Late report to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency | Fixed environmental sanction charge of SEK 10,000. No imprisonment. The charge under chapter 4 section 5 does not apply to producers in a deposit-return system.Ordinance (2012:259) ss. 20 b and 21 a, for Ordinance (2022:1274) ch. 4 s. 5 and ch. 11 | No custody | Sveriges riksdag · SFS 2012:259Read 2026-09-21 |
| Switzerland | Not paid | Intentional breach of the advance disposal fee rules | A fine of up to CHF 20,000 for an intentional breach. Article 61 does not provide imprisonment for this offence.Environmental Protection Act Art. 61(1)(i), read with Art. 32abis | No custody | Fedlex · AS 2024 648Read 2026-09-21 |
| Taiwan | Not paid | Failure to meet recycling-fee / registration duties under the Waste Disposal Act (resource recycling) | Administrative fine; unpaid recycling fees are recovered with surcharges under EPA fee rules. No imprisonment for purely administrative fee arrears.Waste Disposal Act; Recycling Fund / fee regulations (EPA) | No custody | MOJ · Waste Disposal ActRead 2026-09-23 |
| Thailand | Not paid | Breach of duties under the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act / packaging product-stewardship rules | Administrative fine under NEQA (commonly up to THB 100,000 per offence in the applicable penalty clauses) plus corrective orders. Imprisonment only for serious environmental crimes, not ordinary fee defaults.Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act B.E. 2535 | No custody | PCD · NEQA / environmental lawsRead 2026-09-23 |
| Türkiye | Not paid | Recovery contribution fee (GEKAP) for packaging listed in Annex 1 not paid | Administrative fine equal to 20% of the unpaid contribution; late or under-declared contributions are also collected with default interest. No imprisonment in this offence.Environmental Law No. 2872, Art. 20(z) and Additional Art. 11 | No custody | Mevzuat · 2872 sayılı Çevre KanunuRead 2026-09-21 |
| United Kingdom | Not paid | Disposal and administration fees unpaid more than 50 days after the due date | Variable civil penalty equal to the higher of 20% of the unpaid fees or 5% of reported turnover. For a group registration, 20% of the unpaid fees or 2% of the group's collective turnover. No imprisonment in this provision.SI 2024/1332, reg. 68(4) and Schedule 13 Part 3 para. 10 | No custody | legislation.gov.uk · SI 2024/1332Read 2026-09-21 |
| United Kingdom | Not registered | Carrying on business unregistered, or missing the registration deadline | Criminal offence: an unlimited fine on indictment; on summary conviction a fine in England and Wales, and in Scotland and Northern Ireland a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum. A variable civil penalty is also available. Regulation 119 does not provide for imprisonment.Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024, regs. 115 and 119, Schedule 13 | No custody | legislation.gov.uk · SI 2024/1332Read 2026-09-21 |
| United Kingdom | Not reported | Missing or late packaging report; failure to keep records | A missing report is the same criminal offence as failing to register: a fine, unlimited in England and Wales, with no imprisonment. Failure to keep records attracts a fixed civil penalty of £1,000, increased by 50% if unpaid within 56 days.SI 2024/1332, regs. 115 and 119; Schedule 13 Parts 1 and 2, paras. 2 and 8 | No custody | legislation.gov.uk · SI 2024/1332Read 2026-09-21 |
| United States | Not paid | Non-compliance with California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54), e.g. missing PRO participation or plan duties (lead example; other US states have their own EPR statutes) | Administrative civil penalty up to US$50,000 per day per violation (up to US$25,000/day for smaller obligated entities under PRC § 42060(a)(5)). No imprisonment in this offence.California Public Resources Code § 42081 (SB 54) | No custody | California LegInfo · PRC § 42081Read 2026-09-23 |
| Uruguay | Not paid | Breach of packaging/REP duties (Law 17.849 / Decree 260/007 / Law 19.829) — e.g. missing approved plan or non-compliance | Ministry of Environment fine of 10–100,000 UR (Law 19.889 Art. 295), plus measures under Law 17.283 Art. 15 (warning, publication, seizure, suspension/expiry of permits up to 180 days). No imprisonment in this administrative offence.Law 19.889 Art. 295; Law 17.283 Art. 15; Decree 260/007 Art. 18 | No custody | IMPO · Ley 19.889 Art. 295Read 2026-09-23 |
| Vietnam | Not paid | Failure to perform recycling responsibility or to pay the recycling-support contribution (EPR under the Environmental Protection Law / Decree 08) | Administrative fine under Decree 45/2022 Art. 32: roughly VND 900 million–1 billion for individuals, double for organisations (about VND 1.8–2 billion). No imprisonment in this administrative offence.Decree 45/2022/ND-CP, Art. 32(5); duty basis Decree 08/2022 | No custody | Thư Viện Pháp Luật · Nghị định 45/2022Read 2026-09-23 |
Coverage includes packaging/EPR markets from the PRO directory where an official statute has been read — Europe plus further jurisdictions worldwide. Only register, report or pay duties with a checked primary text appear; a missing country or duty does not mean there is no penalty.