Portugal EPR (APA/SILiAmb) Guide for Shopify Sellers
Last updated: 12 July 2026
What is the APA/SILiAmb packaging declaration?
Portugal's packaging rules generally require anyone who places packaged goods on the Portuguese market to register and file an annual declaration. Registration and filing run through SILiAmb (the SIRER system). The bodies involved are APA / SILiAmb (Sociedade Ponto Verde) — APA is the government authority; Sociedade Ponto Verde operates the integrated system most producers' figures serve.
Who is generally obligated
If your Shopify store ships packaged goods to consumers in Portugal — including as a foreign, non-Portuguese distance seller — you are generally in scope as a produtor. Shipping and mailer packaging used to deliver an online order is generally treated as declarable service packaging, alongside the product's own packaging.
The mandatory authorised representative
Portuguese rules generally require a producer established in another EU member state or a third country to appoint an authorised representative established in Portugal — appointing one is not optional for a foreign seller. That representative is generally the party who registers, holds the Producer Registry number (NRP, APA), and files the declaration on your behalf. Confirm your specific situation against the official source below.
What a declaration covers
The APA/SILiAmb declaration reports weight by official material family, for the reporting period. The material families a declaration can cover are:
- Glass (Vidro)
- Plastic (Plástico)
- Paper & board (Papel e cartão)
- Beverage cartons / ECAL (ECAL)
- Steel incl. tinplate (Aço)
- Aluminium (Alumínio)
- Wood (Madeira)
- Other materials (Outros materiais)
How Tarra helps
Tarra reads your Portugal-shipped Shopify orders and your packaging profiles, and totals the weight per official material family shown above. It generates a declaration-ready CSV your authorised representative can use for filing. Tarra is a data-preparation tool only: it does not appoint or replace your Portuguese authorised representative, does not register you, and does not submit anything to APA, SILiAmb, or any authority. You review the totals, approve the report, and your representative files it.
FAQ
Do I need a Portuguese authorised representative if I only sell online from outside Portugal?
Generally, yes — Portuguese rules require a producer established outside Portugal to appoint an authorised representative established in Portugal before it registers or files. This is generally mandatory, not optional. Confirm your specific situation against the official source below.
What is ECAL?
ECAL is Portugal's dedicated declaration line for beverage cartons (Embalagens de Cartão para Alimentos Líquidos), separate from the general paper and board family.
Is there a minimum volume before Portuguese rules apply?
There's no general exemption from the underlying obligation itself — it generally applies from the first packaging unit placed on the market. Some smaller sellers may qualify for a simplified declaration format rather than a full material breakdown — check the official source below to confirm how it applies to your specific volumes.
Does Tarra register me or submit my declaration to APA?
No. Tarra prepares your per-material totals as a CSV. You and your authorised representative review it, approve it, and file it.
What materials does the declaration cover?
The official material families listed above, under "What a declaration covers."
Official sources
- Registration / declaration portal (APA / SILiAmb (Sociedade Ponto Verde)): https://siliamb.apambiente.pt
- Primary official source: https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/2017-114350681
- You'll be asked for your Producer Registry number (NRP, APA) when you register.
Deadlines
- APA annual declaration — estimate + prior-year correction (SILiAmb) — due March 31, every year.
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and requirements can change — always confirm current rules with the official source linked below. Tarra prepares your packaging data and generates the report file; you review, approve, and file it yourself. Tarra never submits anything to an authority on your behalf.