ETIRA welcomes EU and national parcel levies, calls for stronger compliance to protect Europe’s reuse industry
October 21, 2025
The European Toner & Inkjet Remanufacturers Association (ETIRA) has welcomed the European Commission’s plans to introduce a €2 flat handling fee on small parcels imported from outside the EU, alongside national initiatives such as Romania’s proposed RON 25 (€5) levy starting in November 2025. The Association says these steps mark an important move towards fairer trade and a more level playing field between European and non-EU producers.
However, ETIRA warns that while these levies will help recover lost VAT and customs revenues, they do not address the environmental loopholes that continue to undermine the EU’s circular economy goals — especially in the imaging and printing sector.
“We support the levies as a first step towards fair competition,” said ETIRA Secretary General Vincent van Dijk. “But the environmental costs of imported cartridges are far higher than €2 per parcel. The real cost of collecting and recycling these products within Europe is closer to €8 per unit. Unless importers also contribute their fair share to waste management, compliant European producers will keep paying for the waste of those who don’t.”
ETIRA argues that the EU already has the necessary legal framework to close this gap — it simply needs to be enforced. The Association is calling for customs authorities to cross-check small-parcel imports against national WEEE and EPR producer-registration databases, and to verify that non-EU manufacturers have a valid Authorised Representative (AR) established within the Union.
“The law already requires that any non-EU manufacturer placing products on the EU market has an authorised representative here, legally responsible for compliance,” van Dijk added. “If customs authorities checked that each import has a registered producer or AR before release, we’d instantly stop free-riders and hold someone accountable for non-compliance.”
Looking ahead, ETIRA welcomed the forthcoming Ecodesign for Imaging Equipment Regulationwhich will establish design and reuse requirements for printers and cartridges. The Association stressed that strong customs and compliance systems are essential to make this legislation effective.
“Ecodesign without enforcement will not deliver,” van Dijk concluded. “We urge the European Commission and Member States to coordinate customs, WEEE, and market-surveillance authorities so that only compliant, reusable products enter the EU market. The tools already exist, what’s needed now is the political will to use them. Europe’s circular economy depends on it.”
New EU Ecodesign Rules for Smartphones – A Glimpse into the Future for Printing Equipment
October 2, 2025
This summer, the EU’s new Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Regulations for mobile phones and tablets entered into force. From June 2025, smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices placed on the EU market will need to comply with strict new requirements for energy efficiency, durability, reparability, and recyclability.
What’s new?
The regulations introduce a series of obligations for manufacturers and suppliers:
- Spare parts & repair: mandatory availability of key spare parts for up to 7 years, maximum delivery times, and easy access to repair and maintenance information.
- Durability & reuse: devices must meet standards for drop resistance, scratch resistance, dust and water protection, and battery endurance. They must also provide a secure factory reset to enable reuse.
- Recyclability: dismantling instructions and plastic marking requirements to improve recovery of critical raw materials.
- Energy labelling: smartphones and tablets will now carry an EU energy label, informing consumers about battery life, repairability, resistance to drops, and water protection.
- Market surveillance: suppliers must maintain technical documentation for 10 years and ensure products are CE-marked and fully traceable, with national authorities empowered to test and enforce compliance.
Why it matters for imaging equipment
For ETIRA, these new rules provide a preview of what may come for our industry. Concepts such as mandatory spare parts availability, design for repair, preparation for reuse, dismantling information, and stronger market surveillance are highly relevant for printers and imaging consumables.
If similar rules are extended to imaging equipment, they could significantly strengthen the remanufacturing industry by:
- Ensuring fair access to repair information and spare parts.
- Supporting preparation for reuse as a standard compliance requirement.
- Closing loopholes that allow non-compliant, non-recyclable products to undercut responsible European remanufacturers.
ETIRA’s perspective
These measures reflect the EU’s growing commitment to the circular economy. For our sector, they offer a glimpse of a more level playing field where reusability, compliance, and sustainability are prioritised over cheap disposability. ETIRA will continue to follow these developments closely and advocate for similar, strong ecodesign rules for imaging equipment.
👉 Read more about the new smartphone and tablet rules on the EU product portal.
ETIRA joins coalition calling for stronger EU rules on online marketplaces
September 18, 2025
E-commerce has transformed the way Europeans buy everything from toys to tech to printer cartridges. Yet behind the convenience of a click lies a growing risk: unsafe and non-compliant products entering the EU market without proper oversight.
Every year, billions of small parcels arrive in the EU from third countries. According to the European Commission, 4.6 billion parcels under €150 entered the EU in 2023. Many of these bypass EU safety and compliance checks, exposing consumers to unsafe products, fake labels, and goods that do not meet sustainability requirements. In the printing sector, this includes toner and ink cartridges sold online without meeting EU safety, chemical or recycling rules.
Marketplaces Escape Accountability
Under current EU law, online marketplaces are not recognised as economic operators. This means they are not legally responsible for verifying compliance of products sold by third-country sellers on their platforms. They act only if notified of violations. Existing laws, such as the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), have not closed this gap.
Key Recommendations
To protect consumers, the environment, and fair competition, a coalition of 63 organisations – including ETIRA – calls for decisive action:
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Mandatory EU economic operator for every product sold into the EU.
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Recognition of marketplaces as economic operators responsible for third-country sales.
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Enhanced obligations for marketplaces to verify compliance, ensure traceability, and uphold Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
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Improved traceability via integration of EU databases and the Digital Product Passport.
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Stronger customs checks and the swift abolition of the €150 de minimis exemption.
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Reinforced enforcement resources for market surveillance and customs authorities.
A Call to Action
Closing these loopholes is essential to safeguard consumers, protect the environment, and ensure fair competition for businesses playing by the rules. For Europe’s remanufacturers, this is not only a question of fairness but also of sustainability: compliant, reusable cartridges should not be undercut by non-compliant imports that evade EU law.
ETIRA urges EU policymakers to act swiftly. Stronger rules will not only protect consumers but also support Europe’s circular economy and create a level playing field for responsible businesses.
Read all details and the full declaration here.
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CircularEconomyFairCompetition
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WEEE Directive: Time for Ambitious Reuse Targets and Strong Enforcement
July 4, 2025
The European Commission’s newly published evaluation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive confirms what ETIRA has long stated: the legislation is no longer fit for purpose. With collection targets widely missed, critical raw materials lost, and unfair competition distorting the market, the EU must act decisively to bring reuse and remanufacturing to the forefront of the circular economy.
“Linear manufacturers are not the right actors to lead the change,” said ETIRA President Javier Martinez. “WEEE keeps growing faster than it is being treated. In sectors with high circular potential, like imaging, we need to be bold — and we need to establish ambitious reuse targets now.”
The WEEE Directive, which governs the collection and treatment of electrical and electronic waste across the EU, has been in place for over two decades. While the Commission’s evaluation describes the legislation as “relevant, coherent and proportionate”, it also identifies five major shortcomings:
- Poor collection rates
- Limited recovery of critical raw materials (CRMs)
- Fragmented Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes
- Inconsistent treatment standards
- An outdated product scope
In 2022, only three Member States met the EU’s 65% collection target. Nearly half of the WEEE generated in the EU is not being collected. Valuable materials, such as copper, gallium, tungsten, and rare earths, continue to be lost to landfills and incineration.
For ETIRA and the imaging equipment reuse sector, these findings confirm that the current system disproportionately benefits single-use, linear models, especially new-build cartridges and printers that are imported into the EU without contributing to national EPR systems.
“For every single-use clone that enters, two reuse cycles are lost,” said Martinez. “The empty OEM cartridge is not reused, and the clone cannot be reused. That is devastating for circularity.”
Unfair competition from non-compliant, low-quality imports, often sold online, continues to undermine efforts by legitimate remanufacturers. The Commission itself flags the failure to enforce existing rules, particularly with online marketplaces. ETIRA has repeatedly raised this issue in relation to RoHS enforcement, with little tangible result.
“Voluntary compliance is not working. Enforcement must now be central to WEEE reform,” Martinez added. The new WEEE should create a separate category for cartridges, with a minimum reuse target of 30% -40%, gradually growing to 80%-90%. The technology and infrastructure to do that exists; what is missing is the economic incentive: our locally produced, environment-friendly alternative cannot compete with the thousands of polluting, cheap, single-use, non-OEM cartridges dumped on the EU market every day.
The evaluation also references the EU’s upcoming fully digital Waste Shipment System, which is expected to be implemented in 2026.
The WEEE Directive was a landmark moment for the imaging sector in 2001, and led to the creation of ETIRA the following year. Today, with the Circular Economy Act on the horizon, the EU has a second chance to get it right.
ETIRA stands ready to work with policymakers to ensure that the revised WEEE framework delivers:
✅ Strong reuse targets
✅ Strong enforcement
✅ Clear rules for high-quality remanufacturing
✅ A level playing field for all producers
Love Me, Tender?
July 2, 2025
Public tenders for the procurement of imaging equipment and cartridges continue to present serious challenges for OEM cartridge remanufacturers. In the EU, the outright exclusion of remanufactured OEM cartridges from public tenders is illegal. Challenging such tenders is an ongoing task for ETIRA.
It is unacceptable that some public bodies violate EU competition law by preventing bidders from offering remanufactured OEM cartridges. ETIRA intervenes wherever we discover these unlawful exclusions. Over the past two years, ETIRA has formally protested against around 25 tenders in Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania and France, which initially excluded remanufactured cartridges. In most cases, the public authority backed down and eventually allowed remanufactured products to be included.
Other tender-related problems arise when unscrupulous traders abuse the system. In several recent cases, ETIRA exposed firms that won tenders by offering remanufactured cartridges on paper, only to supply polluting single-use cartridges instead. ETIRA notified the relevant authorities and demanded that the delivered products be tested for compliance with the tender criteria.
Abuse also includes the submission of false information to qualify for a tender. In one recent case in Italy, ETIRA exposed bidders who falsely claimed their products held Type-1 ecolabel certification.
If you have encountered similar issues, don’t hesitate to get in touch with info@etira.org to explore how ETIRA can assist you in responding.
EUIPO issues ruling in Ricoh ETRIA trademark case
June 30, 2025
In 2023, Ricoh asked the EU’s brand registration authority, EUIPO, to register the brand “ETRIA” for its printer manufacturing joint venture with other OEMs. ETIRA opposed this registration, as did Eldria GmbH, a company based in Bamberg, Germany. Like ETIRA, Eldria argued that registering “ETRIA” would create confusion among customers.
ETIRA entered a period of negotiations with Ricoh, temporarily suspending our opposition. Eldria, however, continued its challenge – and with success.
On 13 June 2025, the EUIPO ruled in favour of Eldria, finding a likelihood of confusion for the public. The EUIPO concluded that the opposition was well founded, and that the brand “ETRIA” must be rejected for all the contested services.
Ricoh now has until 13 August 2025 to appeal. If no appeal is filed, the brand “ETRIA” will never come into use, and their opposition to our application to extend the ETIRA brand will also lapse.
This post was updated at 08.37 22.09.2025
ETIRA Members Unite in Tallinn to Shape a Fairer, More Sustainable Market
May 21, 2025
A conference focused on compliance and the circular economy
The main conference day on 14 May brought together expert voices from across the industry. Sessions explored the intersection of circularity, chip technology, regulatory change, and business resilience. Jason Doran (Zhono) addressed barriers to reuse created by chip design, while Keypoint Intelligence presented new research on shifting print behaviours. ETIRA board member David Connett challenged businesses to embrace purposeful print, with a focus on trusted, compliant, high-value services aligned to future market needs.
Contributions from Richard Catley (Ricoh) and Juan Carot (Brother UK) further underlined the importance of the circular economy. They shared the remanufacturing journeys of their respective companies and the operational realities of delivering sustainability at scale.
In the afternoon, Jan de Kesel introduced the emerging role of Digital Product Passports in supporting transparency and compliance. The final two sessions centred on ETIRA’s work: Secretary General Vincent van Dijk gave a comprehensive update on Brussels-level policy, including progress on Ecodesign, sustainability, and anti-greenwashing rules. He also introduced the ETIRA 2025 Report, which outlines the association’s priorities and action plan for the year ahead.
Download the ETIRA 2025 Report here.
ETIRA President Javier Martínez then led a workshop on market risks and enforcement challenges, offering practical advice on WEEE, REACH, and other core compliance responsibilities.
ETIRA AGM: Strategy, oversight and new leadership
Following the conference, ETIRA members held the association’s Annual General Meeting. Members approved the 2024 accounts and adopted the 2025 budget. Elections to the ETIRA board were also held. The newly elected board is as follows:
- President: Javier Martínez
- Vice-President: Gerwald van der Gijp
- Board Members: Sara Ferreri, Jan-Michael Sieg, Peter Knak, Volker Kappius, and David Connett
Milan Banjac did not stand for re-election, and the general assembly thanked him for his valued contribution to ETIRA over the past years.
The AGM reaffirmed ETIRA’s strategic priorities: strengthening advocacy, particularly regarding the upcoming EU ecodesign regulation on the printing industry, ensuring fair market access, improving compliance, and supporting members across Europe in the transition to a more sustainable, circular economy.
Trade Day: Dialogue and deeper connections
On 15 May, the focus shifted to informal engagement. ETIRA members and other delegates took part in Trade Day, a slower-paced, high-value networking session that enabled deeper conversations between industry peers, supporters, and potential partners. One-to-one discussions, product demos and tabletop presentations helped build relationships and extend the dialogue begun during the conference.
Looking ahead
ETIRA remains committed to delivering a level playing field for remanufacturers across Europe through informed lobbying, practical support, and continued collaboration with its members. Events like The Recycler Live provide an essential meeting point to reinforce shared values, assess emerging risks, and drive the transition to a more sustainable, compliant and competitive imaging sector.
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Tallinn
ETIRA Calls for Urgent Action on Non-Compliant E-Commerce Imports
March 19, 2025
ETIRA welcomes the European Parliament’s strong stance against non-compliant e-commerce imports, which continue to undermine fair competition and endanger consumer safety. The Own Initiative Report on Product Safety and Regulatory Compliance in E-Commerce and Non-EU Imports highlights the urgent need to close loopholes that allow online marketplaces to sell low-cost office imaging consumables while avoiding EU duties, WEEE take-back obligations, and other compliance requirements.
The rise of online marketplaces has created a free-for-all for non-EU sellers, many of whom operate outside the reach of EU regulators. They ship cartridges and toners in small parcels, often misdeclared to evade customs duties, safety checks, and environmental regulations. Meanwhile, European remanufacturers must comply with strict WEEE, REACH, and RoHS regulations, invest in take-back schemes, and ensure their products meet the highest safety and environmental standards.
Graph created by ETIRA, based on data from the European Parliament’s 2025 report on e-commerce and regulatory compliance.
In 2024, 4.6 billion small e-commerce parcels entered the EU under the €150 customs duty exemption, double the figure from 2023 and triple that of 2022. Many of these shipments bypassed customs checks, flooding the market with cheap, disposable imaging consumables that do not meet EU safety and environmental standards. The cost to European businesses has been immense, with legitimate remanufacturers struggling to compete against products that are neither taxed nor required to meet EU sustainability regulations.
To tackle this growing problem, the European Parliament has proposed urgent reforms. A key recommendation is the removal of the €150 customs duty exemption, which has been widely exploited by non-EU sellers to undercut compliant European businesses. Ending this exemption will ensure that all imports, regardless of value, are subject to the same tax and regulatory requirements, creating a fairer competitive environment.
Another critical measure is stronger enforcement by customs and market surveillance authorities. Current enforcement efforts are inadequate, as authorities lack the resources to inspect the sheer volume of small parcels entering the EU. Many of these products are non-compliant, yet they pass through customs unchecked. Greater investment in customs controls, data-sharing, and regulatory oversight is urgently needed to ensure that non-compliant products are identified and stopped before they reach the market. More testing facilities for e-commerce products would help to identify non-compliant goods before they enter the single market. And new technology can help to enhance enforcement: AI, blockchain, and IoT are essential for improving e-commerce regulation and market surveillance to monitor product listings, automate inspections, and perform risk assessments.
The report also highlights the responsibility of online marketplaces in tackling this issue. Many of these platforms operate as intermediaries rather than direct importers, allowing them to sidestep liability for non-compliant products. The European Parliament calls for stricter rules that hold platforms accountable for ensuring that all products sold on their sites meet EU safety, environmental, and tax requirements. If a marketplace profits from the sale of these products, it must also share in the responsibility for compliance.
ETIRA Calls for Industry-Wide Action to Tackle Non-Compliant Printer Cartridges
February 26, 2025
The European Toner & Inkjet Remanufacturers Association (ETIRA) is calling on all responsible stakeholders across the European market—remanufacturers, OEMs, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, repair and recycling businesses, public sector buyers, and environmental organisations—to join us in demanding urgent action from the European Commission.
Every year, millions of non-compliant and illegal printer cartridges flood into the EU, bypassing essential environmental and safety regulations. These products undermine the circular economy, threaten consumer safety, and cripple legitimate businesses that invest in sustainability. Without a strong, coordinated response, Europe’s vision for a greener, fairer printing market will be lost to non-compliant imports and unsustainable practices.
The Crisis We Must Address
- Illegal and non-compliant cartridges dominate the market, evading Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules, failing REACH and CLP safety requirements, and misleading consumers with fake certifications.
- The share of genuine remanufactured cartridges has plummeted, forcing many remanufacturers out of business and costing thousands of green jobs.
- The European Commission’s studies confirm that cartridge reuse could reach 85%, yet this target remains unachievable without action against illegal imports.
Our Demands for a Fairer and Greener Market
ETIRA is calling on the European Commission to:
✅ Prioritise enforcement by designating printer cartridges as a Priority Control Area (PCA), ensuring proper oversight by Market Surveillance Authorities (MSAs) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
✅ Hold online marketplaces accountable for enabling the sale of non-compliant products, making them share responsibility for compliance enforcement.
✅ Introduce a system similar to the Digital Product Passport (DPP) for printer cartridges, ensuring transparency, compliance verification, and informed consumer choices.
✅ Strengthen border controls and customs enforcement to prevent non-compliant products from entering the EU market.
✅ Embed sustainable public procurement rules to ensure that public sector buyers prioritise genuine remanufactured products over disposable, non-compliant imports.
✅ Increase funding and resources for Market Surveillance Authorities (MSAs) to enforce compliance effectively.
Join the Campaign – Let’s Demand Change Together!
No single organisation can win this fight alone. We need the entire European printing industry to stand together. Whether you are a remanufacturer, an OEM, a distributor, a retailer, or a business committed to sustainability, your voice matters.
📢 ETIRA is calling on all stakeholders to unite and campaign for stricter enforcement, fair competition, and real sustainability in the European market.
📧 Contact ETIRA today at info(at)etira.org, to support our campaign, co-sign our letter to the EU, and help shape the future of our industry. Together, we can ensure a cleaner, fairer, and more sustainable future for printing in Europe.
🔗 Spread the word! Please share this message, co-sign our letter to the EU, and stand with ETIRA.
Co-Signatories:
Belgium:
ETIRA European Toner & Inkjet Remanufacturers’ Association
Recyca BV
Germany:
CM Printing GmbH
Delacamp
Italy:
PACTO Association
Refilservice srl
Sapi SRL
Spain:
IMEX EU Trading SL
GENERAL MACHINES TECHNOLOGY, S.L.
United Kingdom
ECS – Effective Consumable Solutions
Honest Inks Ltd.
Keypoint Intelligence