Mandatory registration with an eco-organization
Summary: carambolejm is concerned about the new fee of 132€ from Cite9o for sending packaging under 5 tonnes, as their shipments do not exceed 10 kg annually. francexpressdeal explains that the fee is due to the fusion of REP Papiers graphiques and REP Emballages, which instituted a minimum charge. francexpressdeal confirms there's no free alternative and mentions LEKO as another option with similar costs. They also highlight additional upcoming EU regulations affecting shipments. lingma85 advises checking current tariffs and discussing directly with Cite9o.
Hello,
a few years ago eBay asked me for a REP identifier. I signed up with Citéo, got this identifier, and since my packaging doesn't exceed 5 tonnes per year I didn't have anything to pay.
For 2026, Citéo is asking for €132 if you send less than 5 tonnes.
Since I send postage stamps, the total of my shipments must not exceed 10kg. I'm clearly not the target audience for all this.
Is there any way to avoid this new tax? a free alternative to Citéo?
Thanks for your replies
francexpressdeal
·Jul 10, 2026 at 4:46 AM · Edited@carambolejm
I can confirm that the invoice is indeed linked to the merger of the REP Packaging and Graphic Papers schemes.
Here is what is stated on CITEO in the "Graphic Papers Placed on the Market in 2026 tariff guide" :
"What CHANGES for 2026?
Introduction of a minimum invoicing amount for membership in CITEO Household Packaging and Papers. To ensure coverage of your legal obligations, a minimum invoicing amount of €110 (excl. VAT) applies under your contract, regardless of the volume you place on the market."
"To ensure coverage of your legal obligations, a minimum invoicing amount of €110 (excl. VAT) under the contract applies. This minimum invoicing amount covers your two declarations (Household Packaging and Graphic Papers). Examples: • You place 0 packaging items and < 5 tons of paper: you pay a minimum invoicing amount of €110."
francexpressdeal
·Jul 9, 2026 at 9:12 PMGood evening @carambolejm
if you didn’t have anything to pay, it’s because you must have joined only the Graphic Paper EPR, which was indeed free for shipments not exceeding 5 tons;
But in January 2024, the Graphic Paper EPR merged with the Packaging EPR (which was paid).
Check with Citéo to see whether that explains their invoice.
carambolejm
OPJul 10, 2026 at 7:19 AMThanks for the reply, but I'd mainly like to know if there's an alternative to Citéo. I send fewer than 200 20-gram letters a year, and I think it's unreasonable to have to pay for that.
francexpressdeal
·Jul 10, 2026 at 7:35 AM · Edited@carambolejm
there is another eco-organization for packaging: LEKO, but the rate is the same as CITEO.
And to answer your question: no, you can’t get around it and no, there isn’t any free alternative.
I saw that you were selling in the EU, so I’d like to draw your attention to the introduction of the PPWR starting August 12, 2026 :
Packaging and packaging waste regulation | Seller Hub
What you pay CITEO for is only for your shipments in France.
Now, with the PPWR, you’ll also have to pay for each EU country you ship to.
lingma85
·Jul 9, 2026 at 2:47 PMHello @carambolejm
Check here---> Citeo Scale 2026: eco-contributions for packaging, rates and eco-modulations | CirculTrak
and if needed, check directly with them to see if a correction needs to be made.
Best regards
.