How Belgium splits packaging duties
Belgium does not run packaging responsibility from one national desk. IVC/CIE is the Belgian packaging EPR register, the joint commission of the three regions, and most producers meet it through a collective system rather than directly.
The commission is shared by Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels under a 2008 cooperation agreement. Two schemes sit under it, and which one you join depends on the packaging you place.
What IVC/CIE covers
Packaging placed on the Belgian market, through a dual system. Fost Plus handles household packaging and Valipac handles commercial and industrial packaging, with recycling targets and a deposit-return element set through the cooperation agreement.
Litter-cost duties for single-use plastics such as drink packaging, cigarette filters and wet wipes are being added, with obligations from 2026.
Who carries the duty
The party that first places packaged goods on the Belgian market, whether a manufacturer filling packaging, an importer or a distance seller. Fost Plus sets a de-minimis of 300 kg of packaging a year for membership.
Declaring your packaging
- Work out whether you are the packaging responsible party in Belgium.
- Join Fost Plus for household packaging, and Valipac for commercial packaging where relevant.
- Declare your packaging volumes each year through the system, or directly to IVC/CIE if you are outside them.
- Pay the Green Dot and Valipac contributions the systems set.
Foreign sellers and the 2026 change
Belgium places the duty on the local packer, filler or importer rather than requiring a formal authorised representative, and foreign distance sellers usually join Fost Plus directly.
That changes soon. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation introduces EU-wide authorised-representative duties from 12 August 2026.
Belgian packaging terms
- IVC/CIE: the Interregional Packaging Commission.
- Fost Plus: the household-packaging system.
- Valipac: the commercial and industrial packaging system.
Belgium's other register
Electronics have their own Belgian register. Producers of electrical equipment report through BeWeee. This page is the packaging register.
Frequently asked questions about IVC/CIE
Short answers to what producers ask most.
Who must register for packaging in Belgium?
The packaging responsible party, the Belgian packer, filler or importer that first places packaged goods on the market. Foreign distance sellers to Belgian customers are included.
Do I deal with IVC/CIE directly?
Usually not. Most producers declare through Fost Plus or Valipac, which report into the commission. Companies outside those systems declare directly to IVC/CIE.
What is the difference between Fost Plus and Valipac?
Fost Plus covers household packaging; Valipac covers commercial and industrial packaging. A producer with both kinds joins both.
Is there a minimum before I have to join?
Fost Plus sets a threshold of 300 kg of packaging placed on the market per year for membership.