The 1 April 2027 checklist
Eight steps, in order, for businesses that may be small producers.
- Confirm whether you're in scope. Total the packaging you supplied/imported in 2025 (count each item once) and find your turnover from the last accounts available before 7 April 2026. See am I obligated?
- Work out small vs large using the threshold grid. If you're part of a group, use group totals.
- Decide: direct or compliance scheme. Compare total cost (regulator fee + any scheme fee). Check any scheme is on Defra's register. See compliance schemes and fees.
- Set up the account. A director, company secretary, partner or LLP member (or sole trader) creates the report packaging data account and becomes the approved person.
- Collect 2026 data by activity, class, material and weight (kg), including bags supplied in England. Use codes SP and HDC. See reporting data.
- Prepare the CSVs (organisation details and packaging data) using GOV.UK's templates/file generator.
- Submit data, pay the registration fee and submit registration by 1 April 2027. Leave time before the deadline in case of account approval delays.
- Keep records for 7 years and diary next year's check, because thresholds are re-tested annually.
Sources
Checked 17 October 2026. We summarise official material in our own words. The originals take precedence.
- EPR for packaging: what you must do as a 'small producer' (GOV.UK, Defra; last updated 19 Feb 2026)
- Deadlines for registration and packaging data reporting (GOV.UK, Defra; last updated 19 Aug 2026)
- Check if you must comply with EPR for packaging (GOV.UK, Defra/EA; last updated 19 Aug 2026)
- EPR for packaging: register of packaging compliance schemes (GOV.UK, Defra; 2026 register added 6 Mar 2026)