Germany's Oekodesign-Modernisierungsgesetz (OekodesignG), adopted by the Bundestag on May 21, 2026 (Drs. 21/6051) and cleared by the Bundesrat on June 12, 2026, enters into force on November 1, 2026 as the national ecodesign and energy-labelling statute, replacing the Energieverbrauchskennzeichnungsgesetz (EVPG). The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) tabled the bill on April 1, 2026; the 16 Laender market-surveillance authorities, coordinated by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), enforce it from November 1, 2026.
German manufacturers, importers, distributors and online marketplaces that place energy-related products on the German market must comply with the OekodesignG's ecodesign, energy-labelling, repair-access and unsold-goods-destruction provisions by November 1, 2026, or face fines up to EUR 100,000 per breach under section 19 plus Laender market-surveillance measures such as withdrawals, sales bans and import blocks.
- Deadline : November 1, 2026, the OekodesignG enters into force (step: IN_FORCE)
- Who : German manufacturers, importers, distributors and online marketplaces of energy-related products placed on the German market
- What : Comply with national ecodesign, energy-labelling, repair-access and unsold-goods-destruction rules, replacing the EVPG
- Otherwise : Fines up to EUR 100,000 per breach (section 19) plus Laender withdrawals, sales bans and import blocks
- Official source : Deutscher Bundestag, textarchiv KW 16/2026
What applies on November 1, 2026
From November 1, 2026 the OekodesignG replaces the EVPG as the binding national statute for ecodesign requirements and energy-labelling rules for energy-related products placed on the German market. It sets the national enforcement layer for the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR, Regulation (EU) 2024/1781), directly applicable since July 18, 2024: ecodesign and durability requirements, the Digital Product Passport, energy-labelling obligations, repair-access provisions and the ban on destroying unsold goods (Article 25 ESPR, for which section 19 fixes the national fine ceiling).
The Bundestag adopted the committee-amended bill on May 21, 2026 (Drs. 21/6051), and the Bundesrat raised no objection at its 1066th sitting on June 12, 2026 (Einspruchsgesetz), completing the parliamentary procedure. The entry-into-force date of November 1, 2026 is the authoritative date finalized in the adopted text.
| Date | Step | Event |
|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2026 | Government draft | BMWE tables the bill (Drs. 21/5141) |
| April 15, 2026 | First reading | Bundestag refers the bill to the Economic Affairs and Energy Committee |
| May 21, 2026 | Adopted | Bundestag adopts the OekodesignG (Drs. 21/6051) |
| June 12, 2026 | Bundesrat | Bundesrat raises no objection (Einspruchsgesetz) |
| November 1, 2026 | Entry into force | OekodesignG applies, replacing the EVPG |
Who is covered
The OekodesignG binds every actor that places energy-related products on the German market, by market exposure rather than headquarter location. German manufacturers of energy-related products are covered directly. Importers, including EU and third-country producers selling via German importers, must ensure conformity before placing products on the German market. Distributors and retailers, and online marketplaces listing energy-related products for the German market, must verify that the products they offer carry the required labelling and conformity documentation.
The statute sets no de minimis exemption for actors in these categories: the obligations attach to the act of placing non-compliant energy-related products on the German market, regardless of company size.
What to do before November 1, 2026
- Map the product portfolio against the OekodesignG's ecodesign, energy-labelling, repair-access and unsold-goods-destruction provisions, and identify which SKUs fall under the ESPR delegated acts in force.
- Verify the energy-labelling and technical conformity documentation for each energy-related product placed on the German market, and update labels to the OekodesignG standard.
- Stand up the Article 25 unsold-goods-destruction-ban process for large companies, so no covered unsold consumer products are destroyed from November 1, 2026.
- Prepare the repair-access documentation and the spare-parts and conformity information the OekodesignG requires for energy-related products.
- Brief the interface with the 16 Laender market-surveillance authorities and BAM as coordinating body, and ready the conformity and supplier documentation they can request.
- Train compliance, procurement and marketplace-operations teams on the section 19 fine exposure (up to EUR 100,000 per breach) and the Laender enforcement powers.
What happens otherwise
Non-compliance triggers fines up to EUR 100,000 per breach under section 19 OekodesignG, enforceable by the 16 Laender market-surveillance authorities. Beyond fines, the Laender can order withdrawals, sales bans and import blocks for non-compliant energy-related products, removing them from the German market. BAM coordinates market surveillance across the Laender, and the BMWE remains the drafting ministry for future amendments.
Obsidian's per-jurisdiction real-time monitoring surfaces this kind of national enforcement change the moment it publishes, so a compliance team is never caught by a deadline it did not see coming.
How this differs from the EU ESPR
- The EU ESPR (Regulation (EU) 2024/1781) has been directly applicable since July 18, 2024 and already binds German operators; the OekodesignG does not re-transpose those EU obligations.
- It adds the national enforcement layer the ESPR leaves to Member States: section 19 fines up to EUR 100,000, the 16 Laender market-surveillance authorities, and the replacement of the EVPG.
- The ESPR sanctions regime (Article 74) operates at EU level; the OekodesignG fixes the national fine ceiling and the Laender enforcement chain for Germany (ESPR official text).
