If you engage an authorised representative for the registration of packaging in a country where you are not yourself established, that register will usually request four types of documents: an authorisation in the name of the representative, an extract from the Chamber of Commerce or its foreign equivalent, your VAT number, and an overview of the packaging you place on the market in that country, including material and estimated quantities.
The detail that most frequently causes practical problems is the authorisation itself. It must be specific to the country and often to the register in which the representative acts on your behalf, and not a general power of attorney that covers "all EU registrations" in a single sentence. A register that receives such a generic authorisation will typically request a new, more precise version, and this costs time that you would prefer not to lose when facing a deadline.
Why an authorised representative is needed in the first place
An authorised representative comes into play as soon as a business places packaged products on a market in a country where it is not itself established, and the national regulations for that country require a local point of contact. Not every country has this requirement in the same way, and not every role within the PPWR requires a representative. Whether this applies to your situation depends on where you are established, where you supply to, and which role you fulfil in that chain. This distinction is precisely what a few questions determine your role per country is intended for, before you even think about documents.
The authorisation: what it should contain and why generic does not work
A usable authorisation names the representative, the specific register in which they act, the period for which the authorisation is valid, and is signed by someone authorised to sign on behalf of your business. Some registers additionally request a certified or legalised version, for example with an apostille; this varies by country and register, and is separate from the question of whether you substantively meet your obligations. The authorisation regulates only who may act on your behalf, not what is substantively registered.
The other documents: identification and packaging data
In addition to the authorisation, a register will usually request proof that your business exists and where it is established, typically a Chamber of Commerce extract or its local equivalent, supplemented with your VAT number. On top of that comes an overview of the packaging itself: what material is involved, what type of packaging (sales or transport packaging), and an estimate of the quantities placed on the market in the country concerned. If you had already registered in that country previously, the existing registration number should also be included, so that the representative does not create a duplicate registration. Which documents are exactly required varies by register, and these country-specific differences are precisely what the in-depth information on the knowledge base by topic addresses for your situation.
What this does not mean
These documents concern the registration itself, not the question of whether the packaging is substantively compliant. A declaration of conformity, a technical file or the correct indication of name and address on the packaging are separate subjects with their own documents. And an authorised representative is also not a waste management organisation: they do not collect contributions and do not take substantive responsibility for your role. If you are in doubt about that role, platforms such as epria.eu cite the guidelines and refer you to a lawyer or the competent supervisory authority, rather than making a ruling themselves.
Where the guidance does and does not help
The list of documents above is a general overview; the exact format, the language in which an authorisation must be drawn up and whether legalisation is required vary by country and by register. How that guidance per country is structured and what is and is not included, is set out clearly on the page explaining the subscription structure, alongside an explanation of how the information on the site is created.
Are you uncertain whether an authorised representative is needed in your situation, or would you first like to see which role you have per country and per packaging type before you start gathering documents? The free role finder provides an initial direction in a few questions, without requiring you to have an account.