Shipping to the EU

Beginning February 2nd, 2026, the European Union will have enhanced customs description requirements. The new requirements will include a list of Stop words, which are generic descriptions that prevent customs authorities from clearly identifying the nature of the goods being imported. Using these words on their own increases the risk of delays and rejections under ICS2. They may only be used if incorporated into a clear and accurate product description.

Newly added stop words include:

Tips for Clear Custom Descriptions

A good description is simple and specific. It should enable easy identification of the goods and accurate HS code classification. Avoid brand names, colors, serial numbers, or internal product codes. Descriptions that are too generic or overly technical are considered insufficient. Your customs description should answer the following questions:

Creating clear customs descriptions for your products will help ensure your shipments move smoothly through customs.

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.

As of March 1, 2023, the European Union has implemented these requirements for shipments entering member countries.

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 or more detailed item descriptions, failure to comply with these requirements could result in delays to your shipment as well as fines or penalty fees.

Effective November 1, 2026, every product in a business-to-consumer (B2C) shipment to the EU, regardless of value, must carry three Product Identifiers (PIDs) for customs authorities to identify exactly what is being imported.

When shipping internationally, you choose who pays duties at delivery: the sender via Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) or the recipient via Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU).

With the new flat-rate EU duty applying to every qualifying B2C shipment, DDU means your EU customers receive a charge request before they can collect their package. That creates friction and, in some cases refused deliveries that come back to you. DDP keeps the experience clean: you control the cost, build it into your pricing, and your customer receives their order without surprise charges.

🇺🇸 🇨🇦 For US and Canada-based account holders, and certain ShipStation Carriers, ShipStation also offers , letting you pay all applicable duties, taxes, and fees upfront so your customers never face surprise charges at delivery. As long as your shipment details are accurate, the quoted duties, taxes, and fees are locked in, with no adjustments to those charges after the fact.

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.

Review the frequently asked questions below to understand how the new EU customs rules impact your B2C shipments and what steps you need to take in your integration to avoid delivery delays or penalties.