New cross-border documentation duty for used electrical equipment under Austria's EAG-VO, effective July 2026
A new § 11a added to Austria's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulation (EAG-VO, BGBl. II Nr. 218/2026) requires anyone who transfers — or intends to transfer — used electrical and electronic equipment across borders, where the items may potentially be e-waste, to satisfy the minimum requirements of Annex 6 to prove the goods are not waste. Relevant documents must be kept for seven years and produced on request.
What changed
New § 11a introduces a cross-border documentation obligation for used electrical and electronic equipment that could be classified as e-waste. Anyone carrying out — or planning to carry out — such a transfer must comply with the minimum requirements in Annex 6 as evidence that the goods are not waste. The amendment also formally incorporates EU Directive 2024/884 on WEEE into Austrian law and updates the recovery-target Table 3 in Annex 3.
Who is affected
Exporters, importers, second-hand electronics traders, recyclers, and logistics operators who move used electrical or electronic equipment across national borders are directly affected. The obligation applies to both businesses and private individuals undertaking such transfers.
What to look out for
Copies of the documents listed in Annex 6, item 1 must be retained for exactly seven years and shown to the authorities on demand. § 11a and the updated Annex 3 Table 3 took effect at the end of the day of official publication (23 July 2026). Additional provisions (§ 5 para. 1a and 2a) will take effect on 1 October 2026.