Business sellers offering to sell standalone batteries, or batteries contained within a product, to buyers in the EU and Northern Ireland need to comply with local regulations. The EU Batteries and Waste Batteries Regulation covers new and used batteries, and all products containing batteries, including electronics, vehicles, watches and toys. These requirements are part of the EU's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, which is a broad collection of international regulations around waste management. The regulation aims to improve the environmental impact, safety, labelling, collection and treatment of batteries.
All business sellers need to comply with the specific sustainability, safety, labelling, and information requirements of the products they’re selling.
If you’re a battery producer, you may also need to register for a Battery number and add it to your account. Your listings may be hidden until you add the necessary Battery numbers to your account, and you may also be subject to sanctions from local authorities.
Business sellers
If you’re a business seller offering to sell new or used batteries or products containing batteries to buyers in the EU or Northern Ireland, you have an obligation to provide information about the items you're selling. This battery regulation does not apply to items sold to UK buyers, with the exception of Northern Ireland.
If this applies to you, you must provide the following information to your buyer in your listing descriptions and/or in your account:
- A take-back policy, so buyers can return used or waste batteries free of charge
- Information on battery collection points in the buyer's country of residence
- You can either handle battery returns directly, or partner with an eligible recycling organisation through a Producer Responsibility Organisation
- Clear battery safety information in the local language of the buyer's country
- You also need to include the symbol for separate collection of batteries - opens in new window or tab in your listings, to show the batteries must be sent to the correct facility for recovery and recycling
- Information on the disposal of used batteries
- This should normally be provided by the manufacturer
- You can find more information on the European Council - opens in new window or tab website
Tip
Depending on your listings, you may need to comply with multiple regulations at one time. For more information, see our article on Understanding regulations when selling on eBay.
Battery producers
If you’re a battery producer, you may have additional responsibilities under this regulation. You may be considered a battery producer if any of the following apply:
- You manufacture the batteries you offer to sell in the EU or Northern Ireland
- You sell batteries produced by someone else under your own name or brand
- You import batteries into an EU country or Northern Ireland for the first time, regardless of the manufacturer, or where you’re located as a seller
- You’re based outside the EU or Northern Ireland and sell batteries directly to consumers in those countries
If you're a battery producer, you may need to:
- Register with local battery authorities to get Battery numbers in each individual country where your batteries are first placed on the market, if you have a registered business in that country, or
- Appoint an Authorised Representative (AR) in each individual country where your batteries are first placed on the market, if you don't have a registered business in that country
- An AR manages battery compliance on the seller's behalf. They may make contracts with local PROs and ensure legal requirements are met. In some cases, the AR can also serve as a PRO
- Periodically report your sales volumes and pay any applicable recycling fees to the relevant Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs)
- A PRO is a third-party service provider that can help businesses meet their legal obligations, such as registration with national authorities, data collection, reporting, and recycling
If you’re unsure whether this applies to you, we recommend you consult with local regulatory bodies or your legal advisor. Alternatively, you can let our partner Interzero - opens in new window or tab help you with full compliance for selling batteries, including registration, take-back systems, reporting, recycling and disposal.
Once you've obtained a Battery number from your local battery authority, you can add it to your account. Here's how:
- Go to Account Settings - opens in new window or tab and select Business information.
- This can only be done on a computer or tablet, not a mobile phone
- Go to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) numbers and select Add or Manage.
- This will open a page where you manage your EPR numbers
- Select the country and the Batteries category from the drop-down menu, then add your Battery number in the EPR number entry box.
- Select Save.
This process must be completed individually for each country where you have a Battery number. Once you add the Battery number to your account, eBay will automatically add the Battery number to all of your listings.
Batteries and products containing batteries
The EU Batteries and Waste Batteries Regulation applies to all categories of batteries, standalone or contained within products. This includes:
- Portable batteries: typically used in household electronics, small appliances, watches, and toys. For example:
- AA Alkaline battery, standalone or in a TV remote control
- Rechargeable AAANiMH, standalone or in a PC mouse
- CR2032 lithium coin cell, standalone or in a wristwatch
- Laptop battery, standalone or in a laptop
- Starting, Lighting, and Ignition (SLI) batteries: typically used in vehicles for ignition and powering lights
- Industrial batteries: typically used for industrial or commercial use, such as backup power systems or machinery
- Light Means of Transportation (LMT) batteries: typically used in e-scooters, e-bikes, and other light electric transport
- Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries: specifically used in electric cars and other large electric vehicles
Helpful links
For more information about how the EU Batteries and Waste Batteries Regulation may affect your selling on eBay, see the helpful links below: