System operator: a federally approved Dual System for the return of used packaging in Germany according to the German Closed Substance Cycle Waste Management Act. A list of operators can be found here.
Initial circulators: these bring packaged products into circulation at any level of trade.
Free riders: companies which bring packaging into circulation in Germany without fulfilling the legal requirement to sign a contract with a service operator.
Licence fee: a fee for using the services of the system operator.
Trade licensing: the trading partner requires the initial circulator (manufacturer) to arrange the licensing themselves (e.g. often with Aldi)
Trademark licensing: the trading partner is the owner of the brand and is listed as manufacturer. Thus, the trading partner becomes the initial circulator. Either the trading partner can carry out the licensing or the producer as a third party.
Ust-ID: is the VAT identification number is a unique number issued by the tax office.
DIHK: German Chamber of Commerce in Frankfurt which is the umbrella organisation of the 80 regional chambers in Germany. This is where the VE-register is kept.
VE-Register: this is where the companies which have lodged a Letter of Representation with the DIHK are listed. This is public and can be viewed online.
Annual Statement: an overview of all sales and transport packaging brought into circulation in one financial year. This statement is issued at the end of each calendar year.
