Selling textiles into North Macedonia? You may already have obligations under the country’s Textile EPR rules — even if you’ve never registered there before. Textile EPR in North Macedonia was introduced under the Law on the Management of Additional Waste Streams (2021). The purpose of this legislation is to promote the circular economy and mitigate the damaging effects of textile waste, but also other waste classifications, like oil and tyres. As an EU candidate, this law also brings North Macedonia closer to EU environmental policy alignment.
In North Macedonia, textiles are defined as: a product made from any origin (natural, artificial, synthetic), after any technological procedure in ready-made products, including leather and fur, which are used in clothing and textile items in the household. It includes items like rugs and t-shirts.
Exemptions include:
A textile producer in North Macedonia is a legal entity or natural person who, regardless of sales route, places textiles onto the market for the first time. This applies to online distance sales as well. Two categories of producer exist:
1. Small Producer Small producers are still obligated to register and request small producer status from the appropriate authority. This should be accompanied by a forecast for the upcoming year to verify the small producer’s eligibility. Small producers are not obligated to pay producer fees; they are instead to pay a small annual flat fee.
2. Major Producer If you place over 10kg of textiles onto the North Macedonian market, you are required to pay producer fees under EPR.
If you are a producer, you need to register with the North Macedonian textile scheme. Monthly submissions are preferred by the scheme. The data is collected by size, for example S–XL (or larger) for clothes. However, rug and carpet data is collected by metre squared.
Distance sellers and those selling via e-commerce platforms will need to appoint an authorised representative. Other specific requirements exist depending on your role in the supply chain.
North Macedonia’s Textile EPR framework applies broadly — covering household textiles, leather and fur products, and distance sales — with obligations for both small and major producers alike. As the country continues to align with EU environmental policy ahead of accession, staying ahead of registration, reporting and representative requirements now will make future compliance far more straightforward.
For a wider view of how textile EPR is developing across other markets, read our overview of global textile EPR trends and upcoming regulations.
Selling textiles into North Macedonia or other international markets? Find out how our International Compliance and Textiles Compliance services can help you register, report and manage your obligations — contact Valpak today for an obligation assessment.
International Account Manager