Operating across multiple EU countries often means navigating multiple EPR systems simultaneously. 

The LIFE4EPR workshops identified several recurring barriers, including: 

• difficulty finding reliable compliance information; 

• uncertainty about who qualifies as a producer; 

• different registration platforms across Member States; 

• inconsistent reporting formats and product classifications; 

• language barriers; 

• challenges in appointing authorised representatives. 

Although registration is generally a one-time obligation, stakeholders highlighted that the greatest administrative effort lies in the recurring reporting of products placed on the market (POM), which often requires submitting different datasets to national registers and PROs. 

The project also noted that the overall scale of this fragmentation is still insufficiently quantified, highlighting the need for stronger evidence to support future policy decisions.