WEEE & RoHS (Austria: EAG-VO)
Electrical and electronic equipment needs producer registration, take-back financing and restricted-substance compliance — Austria extended retailer take-back obligations from 1 October 2026.
- Reference
- Directive 2012/19/EU · Austria: EAG-VO · Directive 2011/65/EU
- Status
- Applies
- Sources last checked
What it is
WEEE rules make producers responsible for collection and recycling; in Austria they are implemented by the Elektroaltgeräteverordnung (EAG-VO) with registration in the EDM register. Distance sellers without an establishment in Austria must appoint an authorised representative; foreign manufacturers may do so. RoHS restricts hazardous substances (lead, mercury, cadmium, certain flame retardants and phthalates) and is part of CE conformity. The EAG-VO-Novelle 2026 (BGBl. II Nr. 218/2026) adds, from 1 October 2026, free take-back by retailers with at least 25 m² sales area of very small household devices containing batteries.
Who is affected
Producers and importers of electrical and electronic equipment, distance sellers into Austria, retailers (take-back).
What you have to do
- Register as producer (EDM in Austria) before placing equipment on the market; for household equipment: join a collection and recovery system.
- Distance sellers without an establishment in Austria must appoint an authorised representative; foreign manufacturers may do so.
- Ensure RoHS compliance and keep the technical documentation and declaration of conformity.
- Retailers with at least 25 m² sales area: from 1 October 2026, take back very small household devices containing batteries of the types you sell, free of charge and without a new purchase.
Fact check
Partly correct “Our Chinese supplier is registered, so we don’t need to be.”
Registration is per country and per role. Only a registration (or an authorised representative) that covers your sales in Austria counts — check the EDM register.
Sources
- EAG-VO-Novelle 2026 — BGBl. II Nr. 218/2026 (opens external website) ↗
- Authorised representatives for electrical and electronic equipment (opens external website) ↗
- EAG-VO-Novelle 2026 kundgemacht (opens external website) ↗
- Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE) — Official Journal text (opens external website) ↗
- Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS) — Official Journal text (opens external website) ↗
General information, not legal advice. Authentic are only the texts published in the Official Journal of the EU and the Austrian Federal Law Gazette.
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