Ship to the EU Under the New Customs Rules
Identify the new EU product identifiers, flag your B2B shipments, and switch to DDP to keep EU orders clearing customs.
Important
The EU rules that start on November 1 are new. Our carrier and integration partners are still sharing details with us.
We will keep updating this article as things change. Check back often.
This article explains how to use InfoPlus with the EU changes. It is not legal, tax, or customs advice. For questions about codes, incoterms, duties, or fees, contact your carrier rep or customs broker.
What the New EU Rules Require
As of November 1, 2026, each item in a consumer order shipped into the EU needs product identifiers (PIDs). InfoPlus already has a field for each one.
|
Identifier |
What it is |
Required? |
InfoPlus item field |
|
Merchant Product Identifier |
Your own product code, like your SKU or listing ID |
Yes |
SKU |
|
Manufacturer Product Identifier |
The maker's own part or model number |
Yes |
Vendor SKU |
|
Standardized Product Identifier |
A standard barcode number, like a GTIN, EAN, or UPC |
Only if the item has one |
UPC |
InfoPlus already sends your SKU today. Vendor SKU and UPC are the new values InfoPlus sends to EasyPost and eHub. They are sent on all international shipments, not only EU shipments.
Items with no barcode: Not every item has a standard barcode, and that is OK. Leave the UPC field blank and do not enter a placeholder. InfoPlus tells EasyPost and eHub that the item has no standard barcode, so there is nothing extra to enter.
Who the Rules Apply To
|
Shipment type |
Do PIDs apply? |
How InfoPlus handles it |
|
Business to consumer (B2C) |
Yes, at any order value |
Every order is B2C by default. |
|
Business to business (B2B) to VAT-registered EU companies |
No |
You flag these orders with an Order Property override. |
Business or Consumer Designators
Any B2B shipment going to the EU has to be designated as B2B so customs can clear it correctly and apply the right duties. The system default is B2C, so a B2B shipment will be sent as B2C unless you change it.
To designate B2B shipments, use the Order Property override. You can set it at the Line of Business (LOB) level or the order source level, so every order in that LOB or from that source goes out as B2B without being set one order at a time.
If an EU shipment isn’t identified correctly, it may be charged additional fees.
If you’re not sure whether a shipment should be treated as B2B or B2C, contact your carrier rep. For setup steps, see the Order Property Override section of Overview of Functions Available for the Order Property Table. For help deciding how to set up your international shipping, see Setup International Shipping.
Other changes to know
- Incoterm. Switch your EU shipments to DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). With DDP, you pay duties and taxes when you ship, so your customer is not charged at the door. Some EU countries no longer accept shipments without prepaid duties, and those packages may be refused or returned.
- If you use EasyPost with USPS. DDP is not available on USPS PC Postage accounts. To use DDP, move to a USPS Ship account. See EasyPost's Important Changes for Shipping to the EU.
- Manifest scripts. If you use a manifest script to direct who pays duties and taxes on EasyPost shipments, review it before you ship to the EU. EasyPost explains what has changed in its EU Regulatory Updates Guide. Contact EasyPost directly with any questions.
Troubleshooting
If you see "Error: Missing/zero price for SKU [SKU number] for customs pricing."
Why this happens: Customs needs a value for every item, and this SKU has no price.
How to fix it: Add a default price to the item record named in the message, then ship the order again.
If DDP is not available for your EU shipments
Why this happens: DDP is not supported on EasyPost PC Postage accounts.
How to fix it: Contact your carrier rep to review the options for your account.
If customs data shows an unexpected Vendor SKU or UPC value
Why this happens: Your team may use those fields for another purpose. InfoPlus now sends them to customs as product identifiers.
How to fix it: Update the item with the correct maker part number and barcode, using a bulk load for many items.
If a label won't generate for an international order with a built kit
Why this happens: Customs forms now list each kit component on its own line. The label can fail if a component is missing a commodity code or country of origin, if the kit adds up to more customs lines than the carrier allows (USPS allows 30), or if the component weights don't add up to the package weight.
How to fix it: Complete the commodity code, country of origin, and weight on each component item. See Create Commodity Codes. If the kit has more customs lines than the carrier allows, submit a support ticket.
Still stuck? Submit a support ticket.
Next Steps
- If you need to find items missing data quickly, see How to Create and Manage Smart Filters.
- If you need to update many items at once, see How to Bulk Load Data in InfoPlus.
- If you need to set up commodity codes for your items or kit components, see Create Commodity Codes.
- If you need to set B2B overrides or incoterms by order source, see Overview of Functions Available for the Order Property Table.
- If you need carrier-specific rules, see UPS: Adapting to EU De Minimis Changes or the FedEx EU Product Identifier Guide.
- If you need hands-on help updating your item data, submit a Pro Services request.