Free tool
EPR packaging data file checker
Check your packaging data file against GOV.UK's specification before you upload it. It finds the mistakes that get files rejected and tells you how to fix each one. Your file is checked in your browser and never leaves your computer.
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What it checks
The checker goes through every row and column the way the specification sets them out. It looks at the 15 headers and their order, and makes sure there are no blank rows. It checks that every code is valid and in capitals, and that the combinations are allowed, for example P6 only with online marketplace packaging and B1 for public bin packaging. It checks the plastic subtype, which has to be Rigid or Flexible with a capital letter, and that weights are whole kilograms with no commas or units. The transitional column has to be left blank, countries are only filled in for self-managed waste, and recyclability ratings only appear where they belong.
It also adds up your weights by material, so you can sanity-check the totals before you submit.
It can't tell whether your weights are correct, whether you've used the right packaging type for each item, or whether you're obligated in the first place. Our guide to the EPR packaging data file explains every column and code, and the EPR guide covers who has to report.
Questions people ask
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read and checked in your browser, on your own computer. Nothing is sent to us or stored anywhere, so it's fine to use with real packaging data.
Which data years does it check?
It follows GOV.UK's file specification for 2025 and 2026 packaging data, which was last updated on 19 August 2026. It also accepts the 2024 and 2027 period codes that the specification lists.
If it finds no errors, will my file definitely be accepted?
It checks the format: the headers, codes, combinations and how numbers are written. The government's service runs its own checks too, and it can't know whether your weights are right. A clean result means the format matches the specification.
What is the difference between an error and a warning?
Errors are things the specification says will be rejected, like a lowercase subtype or commas in a weight. Warnings are worth a second look but can be fine, such as the same combination appearing twice in a compliance scheme file.
Does it work for compliance scheme files?
Yes. Files that mix large and small producer rows, or include subsidiaries, are checked row by row. You'll see a warning that the file mixes sizes, which is normal for a scheme.
My file was made in Excel. Will it work?
Yes, as long as it's saved as CSV. If you used GOV.UK's packaging data file generator, save its output tab as a CSV and check that.
Getting the numbers right
Most of the work in an EPR report happens before the file: matching sales volumes to packaging specs and adding up the weights for every product. If that takes your team days each period, we can automate it so the file comes out ready to check. See EPR reporting automation, or check when your next report is due.