Frequently asked questions
FAQ Spain – Everything you need to know about EPR regulations in Europe.
Companies are obligated to be EPR compliant by law. Failure to fulfil the legal requirements can result in severe sanctions or sales bans.
The legal framework for EPR in Spain is established under Law 22/2011, of July 28, as well as the Royal Decree 110/2015, of February 20.
All companies subject to EPR on the Spanish market must register with a spanish Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO). The operating PROs in Spain are currently Procircular and Ecoembes. On top of registering with a spanish PRO, they also have to request a Spanish VAT number in digital form by registering for a Digital NIF. Companies, who are selling products on the spanish market but do not have a registered office in Spain, need to appoint an authorized representative to fulfil their EPR duties in Spain. Provider for this service are a. o. AuthoriseMe. Last but not least, companies need to be registered in the public manufacturer register “Registro de productores de producto” (Register of product producers), and need to report the amount of packaging they put on the market to the register. After registration, each company is assigned a corresponding EPR number.
Companies that sell products on the Spanish market but do not have a registered office in Spain must appoint an authorised representative to fulfil their EPR obligations in Spain. Providers for this service include AuthoriseMe.
The Spanish NIE number is a foreign identification number (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) issued by the Spanish National Police and can be applied for either online or at Spanish authorities. It is a unique tax identification number that foreigners need for legal or tax-related activities in Spain. It begins with either the letter “X”, “Y” or “Z” and then consists of 7 digits and another letter.
The Spanish NIF number is a tax identification number (Número de Identificación Fiscal). Every company that does business in Spain must have a NIF number. As there is no other tax number in Spain, it is also mandatory on all invoices. The NIF consists of nine characters: a letter, followed by seven numbers, and one character, which can be either a letter or a number. The first letter indicates the type of company or institution (e.g. limited liability company, public limited company, association, etc.).
A NIE is required for individuals who want to undertake activities in Spain, such as opening a bank account or buying a house. A NIE is no longer necessary to apply for a NIF.
The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is an identification number for foreigners in Spain and is used for various administrative and legal procedures. The NIF (Número de Identificación Fiscal) is a fiscal identification number for tax purposes.
A foreign entity needs a NIF if it wants to undertake business activities in Spain, such as opening a bank account, purchasing real estate, hiring employees, or conducting other financial and fiscal transactions.
Anyone handling tax matters in Spain needs a NIF (Número de Identificación Fiscal). You must therefore ensure that you have a NIF if you sell, pack or export goods to Spain.
No, if you choose to work with our partner, the entire process can be handled remotely from abroad. This allows you to stay in your home country and fully focus on building your business.
As a Circular Pro customer, you also benefit from exclusive special conditions when applying for your NIF through our partner.
