Shipping to the EU
The ShipWorks process for shipping internationally to EU member countries is much the same as shipping any international package. However, as of March 1, 2023, the European Union has implemented new requirements for shipments entering their countries.
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All shipments now require Harmonized System Codes (HS Codes) for all items in a shipment.
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All items in a shipment must have accurate item descriptions.
These changes are part of the EU's ICS2 reform and apply to all shipments, no matter which carrier you ship with. While ShipWorks will not prevent you from creating your label without entering an HS Code, failure to comply with these requirements could result in delays to your shipment as well as fines or penalty fees.
The sections below provide details on how to add your HS Codes to and update your item descriptions in ShipWorks and a few additional details to ensure you continue to ship internationally to the EU with confidence.
ShipWorks provides a way for you to add HS Codes and update item descriptions in your product records so they will be automatically populated into your customs declarations.
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Click on the Products tab at the top of ShipWorks.
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Click on the SKU or Name of a product you wish to edit to open the Edit Product screen.
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Enter an accurate, customs-specific description into the Name field.
ShipWorks uses the product Name as the Description for customs purposes.
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Enter the product's HS Code into the Harmonized Code field.
If you need to locate the proper HS Code for your products, you can use the GlobalPost HS Code Lookup Tool (a very user-friendly tool, but limited to 5 queries a day) or Harmonized Tariff Schedule website.
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Click the Save button to save your changes.
One of the issues this new regulation means to address is the problem of vague or too generalized item descriptions. You can no longer use general categories like "electronics" or "clothing" as item descriptions. They must be specific. The table below provides some examples of acceptable descriptions you can use.
Unacceptable |
Acceptable |
---|---|
Clothes |
Men's Cotton Shirt, Women's Silk Dress |
Appliances |
Samsung Microwave Oven, Kitchen Aid Blender |
Artwork |
Oil Painting, Screenprint on Paper, 12" Bronze Statue |
Gifts |
Small scented candle, Plush Toy, Cashmere Scarf |
Health Products |
Laundry Detergent, Wireless Electric Toothbrush, Cotton Towel Set |
Still Need Help?
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