The Legislation

The Tyres Regulations underpin the system for the management of tyres and waste tyres in Ireland. These regulations govern the importation, registration, sale and safe recycling of all tyres placed on the market in Ireland.  

There are five organisations involved in the system: 

  • Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) 
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
  • Local authorities 
  • Producer Register Limited (PRL) – the national producer registration body 
  • Circol ELT – the tyres compliance scheme 

In terms of importing and selling tyres in Ireland, there are two types of operators: producers and retailers. The Tyres Regulations place legal obligations on both types of operator. Their legal obligations are summarised below. 

For more detailed information, download a copy of the tyres regulations. 

Information for tyre producers 

A tyre producer is any person or organisation that places tyres on the market in Ireland, for the first time, on a professional basis. This includes manufacturers of tyres or anyone who imports tyres by whatever means.  

According to the Tyres Regulations, you are a tyre producer if you are doing any one (or more) of the following (including when using online distance selling): 

  • Manufacturing tyres to place on the market in Ireland 
  • Importing tyres on a professional basis into Ireland 
  • Manufacturing equipment which places tyres on the market in Ireland 
  • Importing vehicles – new or second-hand – which place tyres on the market in Ireland 
  • Importing used tyres for retreading or remoulding, to place on the market in Ireland
  • Placing tyres on the market in Ireland on behalf of another tyre producer who is not registered 

Important note: You are a tyre producer if you import vehicles, whether new or second-hand, with tyres on them. 

Obligations of tyre producers 

All tyre producers are legally required to do the following: 

  • Register every year as a tyre producer with Producer Register Limited (PRL). You can register on its website Producer Register Limited. PRL will guide you through the registration process. You must do this by 31 January every year  
  • Declare, every month, the types and quantities of tyres that are being placed on the market in Ireland. To do this, you must use the  prlblackbox. This is a secure online reporting system 
  • Register every year with Circol ELT. Please see Circol ELT for more information on registration
  • Report tyre sales every month to Circol ELT
  • Charge the correct environmental management cost (EMC) to retailers/wholesalers or to end users for the tyres that are sold to them. The EMCs are specified in the 8th Schedule to the Tyres Regulations 
  • Pay the EMC to Circol ELT for the tyres placed on the market every month 
  • Display the current PRL and Circol ELT registration certificates in a public space on your premises
  • Display the PRL registration number on all sales documents for sale of tyres to wholesalers and retailers 

The legal obligations that apply to tyre producers are enforced by the EPA.  

If you fail to register as a producer, then you are prohibited from placing tyres on the market in Ireland.  

Important note: If you are importing vehicles with batteries, then you are a tyre producer and a battery producer. You will have to meet the obligations that apply to a tyre producer and a battery producer. 

Find out how to comply with the legal obligations of a battery producer. 

Information for tyre retailers 

According to the Tyres Regulations, a tyre retailer is anyone who, for the purpose of trade, or in the course of business as a wholesaler or supplier, sells or otherwise supplies tyres to other persons in the Irish market, including the end user of the tyre. 

All tyre retailers are legally required to do the following: 

  • Join Circol ELT as a tyre retailer
  • Report tyre sales every month to Circol ELT 
  • Charge the correct Environmental Management Cost (EMC) as a separate line item on any invoice generated. The EMCs are specified in the 8th Schedule to the Tyres Regulations 

The legal obligations that apply to tyre retailers are enforced by the local authorities. Contact your local authority or Circol ELT if you have any questions about your legal obligations as a tyre retailer. 

Retailers can take back old tyres when selling new ones to a customer. You must charge the EMC to the customer for each new tyre purchased. Circol ELT will collect all waste tyres from its members for free. The EMC pays for the collection and recycling of the waste tyres.   

If you are sourcing your tyres from a supplier who is a tyre producer, then you should confirm that this supplier/producer is registered as a tyre producer. Check their invoice for the supplier’s producer registration number. You should not buy tyres from a supplier/producer that is not registered. You should not fit tyres if the EMC has not been paid.

Important note: You can be both a tyre producer and a tyre retailer at the same time. For example, if you are importing tyres directly from abroad and also selling them to users as a retailer, then you are a tyre producer and a tyre retailer. You will have to meet the legal obligations that apply to a tyre producer and a tyre retailer as outlined above. This includes when you are buying the tyres online from abroad. 

Watch the video below for guidance on compliance with the Tyres Regulations. Please note that in places the video refers to Repak ELT. Repak ELT are now Circol ELT.

Make a complaint to the EPA 

If you know (or suspect) that a tyre producer is not registered, you can tell the EPA. We will investigate your complaint.  

Go to the EPA’s complaints page to submit your complaint. Your complaint will be confidential.  

Useful sources of information 

Learn more about tyres and tyres compliance on the Circol ELT website.