WEEE Regulation Updates: Online Marketplaces and Vapes
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2025 were laid before Parliament and are set to come into force later this summer. This update brings two key changes, affecting the way vapes and online marketplace are regulated.
Online marketplaces recognised as producers
Online marketplaces will now be classed as producers under WEEE legislation and will be required to finance the collection and treatment of this equipment. Therefore, to facilitate this, online marketplaces that sell electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) from non-UK based suppliers to UK end users are now captured and required to pay recycling fees based on a calculated obligation.
Online marketplaces have been defined as; “A website or mobile application which facilitates the sale or other supply of goods through the website or mobile application by persons other than the online marketplace operator.”
Marketplaces will need to register with a Producer Compliance Scheme (PCS) before 15th November 2025, and take on financial obligations for 2026 based on part-year 2025 reporting.
Timeline of Key Changes
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15 November 2025 |
OMPs must have registered with a PCS and submit methodology for data reporting |
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January 2026 |
Submit 2025 placed-on-market (PoM) data to scheme operators |
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From Q1 2026 |
Begin regular PoM reporting (quarterly or annually, depending on product type |
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31 March 2026 |
Regulators issue financial obligations for 2026 compliance year based on 2025 data |
Vapes get their own WEEE category
A new Category 7.1 has been added to the WEEE Regulations to cover vapes, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products. These items, previously grouped within broader small appliance categories, will now be separately reported and collected under the WEEE regulations.
Vapes have been defined as; “Any device (with the exception of a medical device or a medicinal product) which is intended to be used for the consumption of tobacco products, nicotine or any substance containing nicotine, non-nicotine liquids, herbal smoking products, vaping substances, nicotine-containing vapour or any other such products and EEE which is intended to form part of such a device.”
From the date the legislation enters force, vape producers will need to record and report data under this new official category. This is outlined in the expected timeline below.
Separate collections will be expected at designated collection facilities in partnership with PCSs.
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Q3 2025 |
Expected start of vape data reporting to PCSs. |
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31 March 2026 |
PCS obligations issued based on: • Category 7 data pre-entry into force. • Category 7.1 data post-entry into force. |
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Mid-2026 onwards |
Category 7.1 evidence notes available one year after SI enforcement |
Beyondly are here to help!
We are here to help you with your requirements. Your Account Manager and our wider WEEE team are on hand to support you and help you prepare for future submissions.
If these changes mean you are now obligated under the updated regulations particularly if you operate an online marketplace or produce vapes please get in touch. It's important we help you assess your responsibilities under the new regulations.
If you have any queries or would like to discuss this further, please contact your Account Manager, or drop a message to WEEE@beyond.ly.