New International shipping regulations for the EU, Norway, and Switzerland went into effect in July of 2023. In this article, we will provide an overview of the changes that were made. Please be advised that you will need to speak with your vendors for more detailed information to meet these requirements. LVK cannot provide legal advice or descriptions and codes of products.
International EU Regulations
The European Union (EU), Norway, and Switzerland have set new regulations in place requiring parcels destined to all EU Countries*, Norway and Switzerland to include a Harmonized System (HS) tariff code on customs forms and accompanying shipping data files.
This change aims to increase accountability and efficiency and decrease the risk of fraud and security threats.
*EU Countries are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
What has Changed?
Starting on July 1st, 2023, the above-listed countries released the second phase of its Import Control System 2 (ICS2), two years after the initial release.
All shippers must provide more specific and accurate item descriptions and the appropriate HS tariff code for each item shipped. By complying with this new mandate, customers will:
- Avoid fines and penalties associated with noncompliance.
- Reduce safety and security risks.
- Help ensure timely and efficient delivery to the EU.
- Prevent customs delays and/or return of non-compliant mail items.
Detailed Commodity Descriptions
The EU will no longer accept vague commodity descriptions such as "samples", "clothes", and "parts". An ideal description states the main description of the commodity, followed by its attribute details that complement the main description. It's important to avoid ambiguous descriptions that can be misinterpreted.
Additional Information
To learn more about providing acceptable item descriptions, view the chart below or read the EU's guidance on acceptable terms at:
Guidance on Acceptable and Unacceptable Terms for the Description of Goods.
(Source: European Commission- Taxation and Customs Union)
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this affect me?
If you ship goods to the EU, Norway or Switzerland, this affects you for all International services.
What do I need to do?
If you ship goods to the EU, Norway or Switzerland you will need to:
a. Ensure your descriptions are accurate and specific to avoid delays, penalties and returns (see examples above).
b. Ensure that all your items shipped after July 1, 2023, have been properly Harmonized on the customs form and data.
Based on the requirements above, parcels that do not present the appropriate HS tariff code will be unable to ship to the EU, Norway, and Switzerland.
Kindly be informed that LVK cannot offer legal advice or provide descriptions and codes of products. If you need help with these, please reach out to your vendor.
Click below to read additional Knowledge Base articles regarding International Shipping:
International Shipping: Tariffs, Duties and Fees
International Shipping: EU & UK eCommerce VAT Package & OSS Requirements