Pillar guide · B2B

B2B and French EPR.
No, B2B does not mean exempt.

Quick answer. French EPR covers both household and professional streams. Professional packaging (EPRO under Citeo Pro), WEEE Pro for industrial electronics, professional batteries, B2B medical devices, construction PMCB and others all apply when products reach French professional buyers. The chain of title determines who is the EPR producer in a B2B context — physical handling is not the test, legal title transfer is.

The B2B streams

EPRO: professional packaging shipped to French B2B buyers. Operated by Citeo Pro. Full guide.
WEEE Pro: professional electronics, machinery controllers, lab equipment, medical devices, networking. Operated by Ecosystem or Ecologic (Pro sub-stream).
Professional batteries: industrial batteries beyond portable; separate sub-stream.
PMCB / Construction: building materials. Operated by Valobat or Ecominéro. Full guide.
Professional furniture (DEA Pro): office furniture and similar.

Who is the producer in B2B

The chain of title decides. Three scenarios for non-EU exporters:

Direct sale to French B2B buyer with title passing at delivery → non-EU exporter is the producer. See B2B machinery guide.
Sale to French importer for resale, French importer takes title → French importer is the producer. See retailers and wholesalers guide.
Dropshipping from non-EU to French B2B buyer, you keep title → you are the producer. See dropshipping guide.

Why French B2B buyers verify EPR

Large French distributors (Carrefour, Leclerc, Système U central, Metro France, Saint-Gobain, Point.P, Leroy Merlin Pro, French hospital groups) increasingly run supplier EPR compliance checks during procurement. Reasons: residual liability hedging, internal compliance scoring, customs intercept risk. A non-EU supplier without a verified SYDEREP record finds itself blocked from major distribution channels.

B2B-specific pitfalls

Registering Citeo (B2C) but missing Citeo Pro (B2B)

Many non-EU sellers think B2B sales are exempt and register only Citeo. Mixed-channel sellers need both. The error surfaces at the first French B2B customer’s compliance check.

Confusing dropshipping with consignment

Dropshipping from non-EU to French B2B: you are usually the producer. Consignment with French distributor reselling: depends on title retention. Get the commercial contract reviewed before assuming.

Forgetting medical / lab equipment is WEEE Pro

A blood analyser, MRI accessory or laboratory rotor is a WEEE Pro product. Plus batteries. Plus packaging. Three streams typical.

Treating promotional samples as out of scope

Trade-show takeaways and influencer seeding are placing-on-market events. Declarable tonnage includes them.

Frequently asked questions

I sell only B2B. Does household packaging EPR apply to me?

No, but professional packaging (EPRO) does. B2C packaging shipped to consumers is Citeo. B2B packaging shipped to French professional buyers is Citeo Pro (EPRO). Pure B2B sellers register only for EPRO; mixed B2C+B2B sellers register for both, with separate IDUs.

My French B2B customer is asking for my IDU. Why?

Large French distributors (Carrefour central, Metro France, Leroy Merlin Pro, hospital groups, etc.) run supplier compliance scoring. They verify your SYDEREP record before purchase orders to hedge residual liability and demonstrate procurement compliance. A non-registered non-EU supplier increasingly cannot win these accounts.

If I sell to a French distributor who resells, who is the EPR producer?

Chain of title decides. If the French distributor takes title at delivery (typical for resale), the French distributor is the producer and bears EPR obligations. If you keep title and the distributor sells on commission (consignment), you are the producer. The commercial contract terms are decisive.

B2B medical devices — are they in WEEE or a separate stream?

WEEE Pro. Medical devices with electronic components fall under the professional sub-stream of WEEE (Ecosystem or Ecologic, Pro track). Active implantable medical devices have additional regulatory layers but WEEE EPR applies as a baseline.

I ship machinery on pallets. The pallet is wood — in scope?

Pallets shipped to French B2B buyers are EPRO. Reusable pallets sent back on a loop are out of scope. Single-use pallets are in scope and contribute to declared tonnage. Wood is one of the EPRO declarable materials with its own eco-contribution rate.

B2B promotional samples — free, no invoice. Still EPR?

Yes if you placed them on the French market commercially (trade-show takeaways, influencer seeding, sales-rep bag samples). The trigger is "placing on the market," not invoicing. Free distribution counts. Declared tonnage includes promotional volume.

Special B2B cases

Citeo Pro / EPRO professional packaging

B2B packaging stream, separate from B2C Citeo.

B2B machinery & pro electronics

WEEE Pro + EPRO for industrial exporters.

Supplying French retailers and wholesalers

Carrefour, Leclerc, Système U — who is the producer in a wholesale chain.

Construction PMCB (Valobat vs Ecominéro)

Building materials EPR stream.

B2B dropshipping producer question

Chain of title decides who carries the EPR obligation.

Medical devices EPR

WEEE Pro + EPRO + Batteries for healthcare equipment.

Free samples & promotional items

Trade-show takeaways, influencer seeding, brand kits.

B2B exposure does not multiply the EPR file — one representative mandate covers any number of streams. Send your supply chain summary to our contact form for a written quote in 24 hours. Flat published pricing at /pricing.