devon@ebay This was posted to the USPS website in 2023. Please pass to the correct department for urgent attention. It appears this was never fully complied with by eBay and eBay Labels (see note below). Applicable for both US and Canadian shipping to the EU.
(Note. Unsure if these changes were made to US eBay label documentation and inadvertently omitted on the ca version but equally important and required.) These are rules/requirements couriers have followed for years.
Customs Information for International Shipments to the EU
As of July 2021, all shipments to EU member states require formal customs declarations and are subject to Value-Added Tax (VAT). To ensure uninterrupted customs processing and delivery, formal customs declarations must be completed accurately, including a comprehensive description of goods for each item in the shipment. Detailed instructions are outlined below.
A formal customs declaration must include:
Do not use any abbreviations.
- Name: Complete First Name and Last Name
- Address: Road Name, Number, ZIP Code™, City, State
- Contact Information: Phone, Email - This means valid email address. Not the internal eBay version.
- Currently there is no field for this info when using eBay labels. Mandatory fields when using standalone courier systems
Do not use any abbreviations.
- Name: Complete First Name and Last Name
- Address: Road Name, Number, Postal Code, City, State/Province, Country
- Contact Information: Phone,Email - This means valid email address. Not the internal eBay version.
- Currently there is no field for this info when using eBay labels. Mandatory fields when using standalone courier systems
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FYI for anyone else interested. Additional details/requirements.
New Customs Requirements for Packages to European Union (EU) Countries
If you're shipping packages to countries that follow European Union (EU) customs rules, there are new customs regulations you'll need to follow. If you don't provide more-detailed content descriptions on your customs forms, your packages may be returned or refused. USPS is providing tools to help shippers comply with these new rules.
What You Need to Know
As of March 1, 2023:
- New customs rules apply to all outbound international packages going to European countries that follow EU customs regulations. This includes small personal gifts, ecommerce orders, and military and diplomatic mail (APO/DPO/FPO).
- Every item in your package must be listed on the customs declaration form.
- For each item's description: You can't just name a general category; your description must be specific. For example, you can't just say "electronics"; you have to be specific about the type of electronics, like "computer," "mobile phone," or "television."
- If you use USPS® tools (like the International Retail Postage Price Calculator or Global Shipping Software) and provide acceptable descriptions (that are specific and accurate), USPS will provide an "HS (Harmonized System) Tariff Code" (or just "HS Code"). This USPS-generated code will be included on your customs declaration form.
Guidance for Acceptable Descriptions
Unacceptable Acceptable
| Clothes | Men's shirts, girls' vest, boys' jackets |
| Appliances | Refrigerator, stove, microwave oven |
| Artwork | Oil painting, pencil sketch, bronze statue |
| Battery | Lithium batteries |
| Gifts | Scented candle, remote-controlled car, cashmere scarf |
| Medicine | Painkillers, antiviral spray |
| Health & Beauty Products | Detergent, toothbrush, towels |
| Vegetables | Eggplant, onions, broccoli |
****Unsure why Battery: Lithium Battery was included under acceptable.****
Guidance for Acceptable Descriptions
Unacceptable Acceptable
| Clothes | Men's shirts, girls' vest, boys' jackets |
| Appliances | Refrigerator, stove, microwave oven |
| Artwork | Oil painting, pencil sketch, bronze statue |
| Battery | Lithium batteries |
| Gifts | Scented candle, remote-controlled car, cashmere scarf |
| Medicine | Painkillers, antiviral spray |
| Health & Beauty Products | Detergent, toothbrush, towels |
| Vegetables | Eggplant, onions, broccoli |
Countries That Follow European Union (EU) Customs Rules
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus, Republic of
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Why These Changes Are Important
Outbound U.S. shippers send tens of millions of packages to EU countries each year. However, if you don't comply with new requirements in EU customs rules, your shipments will be at risk. Don't jeopardize your packages, revenue, and customer satisfaction!
For Businesses
- Prevent loss of international outbound revenue
- Follow new EU regulations, reducing fraud and increasing accountability
- Improve speed and efficiency of cross-border ecommerce
- Meet safety and security requirements, preventing delays, fines, and penalties for noncompliance
- Increase competitiveness
For Consumers
- Know EU rules and how to properly describe contents in international shipments
- Send packages with peace of mind, avoiding delayed, discarded, or destroyed packages
Customs Information for International Shipments to the EU
As of July 2021, all shipments to EU member states require formal customs declarations and are subject to Value-Added Tax (VAT). To ensure uninterrupted customs processing and delivery, formal customs declarations must be completed accurately, including a comprehensive description of goods for each item in the shipment. Detailed instructions are outlined below.
A formal customs declaration must include:
Do not use any abbreviations.
- Name: Complete First Name and Last Name
- Address: Road Name, Number, ZIP Code™, City, State
- Contact Information: Phone, Email
Do not use any abbreviations.
- Name: Complete First Name and Last Name
- Address: Road Name, Number, Postal Code, City, State/Province, Country
- Contact Information: Phone, Email
You must include a specific, accurate description for each item in your shipment. For example, if you are sending electronics, you must indicate what type of electronics (e.g., television, computer, mobile phone) for the description to be acceptable.
Acceptable goods descriptions must include:
- Complete, detailed information, explaining the precise nature of the goods in plain language
- An indication of what the goods are, what they are made of, and what purpose they serve
Acceptable Description
- Television
- Mobile phone
- Men's cotton t-shirts
- Polyester women's socks
Unacceptable Description
You must include a separate and specific value for all items in your shipment. Once calculated, included a total value for the shipment.
You must include the total gross weight of the package and the unit of calculation (i.e., pounds or kilograms).
HS Tariff Codes are identifiers linked to specific goods descriptions. Once you have accurately described the item you are shipping, USPS will provide an HS Code for your customs form. In the event that you cannot find an HS Tariff Code, an accurate goods description is enough for customs processing.
Harmonized System Codes are very complex. You can learn more about HS codes here.
What is the Harmonized System?
The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System generally referred to as "Harmonized System" or "HS" is a multipurpose international product nomenclature developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO). The system categorizes commodity groups by six-digit codes, creating a universal economic language for the shipping of goods. These codes are used for internal taxes, trade policies, monitoring of controlled goods, rules of origin, freight tariffs, transport statistics, price monitoring, quota controls, compilation of national accounts, and economic research and analysis. The WCO updates the HS every 5 years.1
Countries often add additional digits to the end of the six-digit code to further classify products. The United States uses a 10-digit code to classify products.2
What are the Challenges?3
- The Harmonized System is complex; it is difficult and expensive to implement and requires extensive training.
- Countries create unique sub-classifications that do not align internationally.
- The WCO recommends quantities associated with the HS codes which do not always align with the quantities used in industry practices that vary across countries.
- Frequent revisions of the HS result in the discontinuation or merging of some codes every five years, causing issues in analysis and implementation across countries.
It is recognized that many of the challenges faced by the HS are inherent and unavoidable in any multipurpose international commodity classification.
Full link details:
https://www.usps.com/international/new-eu-customs-rules.htm
