EU Customs Reform

Please see a communication from Royal Mail

What’s Changing? 

The next phase of the EU Customs Reform will come into effect on 1st November.  From this date, Product Identifier (PID) data will be mandatory for in-scope B2C distance sales imported into the EU, regardless of the shipment value. The EU is also expected to introduce a new handling fee of approximately €2 per low-value parcel, in addition to the €3 customs duty previously introduced in July although this remains subject to ratification which we are expecting imminently.  

The introduction of Product Identifiers is part of the EU's wider customs reform programme. The aim is to improve product traceability, help customs identify unsafe or non-compliant goods, and support risk assessment at product level rather than relying only on item descriptions. 

A Product Identifier, or PID, is a reference that helps customs identify the exact product being imported. Think of a PID as a product passport. Customs no longer want to know only who bought the item, who sold it and what it costs. They increasingly want to understand exactly which product is being imported, moving from a broad description

Customers have been able to provide this information voluntarily on our shipping platforms since the 1st of July 2026. The fields were introduced early so customers could familiarise themselves with the new requirements and begin testing their data ahead of the mandatory go-live date. 

What Information will be Required? 

For each product, customs will expect up to three identifiers: 

1. Merchant Product Identifier (Mandatory) 

• Marketplace listing ID, seller SKU, retailer stock code, Amazon ASIN etc. 

• Example: Amazon ASIN B0F8K2Q7AB 

2. Manufacturer Product Identifier (Mandatory) 

• Manufacturer model number or product reference. 

• Example: WB-500-PRO-BLK 

3. Standardised Product Identifier (Mandatory if available) 

• GTIN, EAN, UPC, ISBN etc. 

• Example: 05012345678903 

The EU is not creating a new numbering system. Businesses should provide identifiers that already exist within their product, supplier, manufacturing or marketplace data. 

Which Shipments are Affected? 

The PID requirement applies to B2C distance sales imported into the EU, including marketplace and e-commerce sales. It applies regardless of shipment value, so both shipments under €150 and shipments over €150 are in scope where they meet the B2C distance sales criteria. 

Why is the EU Introducing This? 

To allow customs authorities to: 

• Identify the same product being sold by multiple sellers. 

• Detect unsafe, counterfeit or non-compliant products more effectively. 

• Improve product traceability. 

• Support future implementation of the EU Customs Data Hub. 

• Facilitate low-risk shipments while targeting higher-risk goods. 

Customers who do not provide the required PID data may experience customs intervention, requests for further information, delays or goods being returned.  

What Should Customers Do Now? 

• Identify the products they sell into the EU. 

• Confirm what Merchant PIDs are available. 

• Obtain manufacturer model numbers from suppliers. 

• Capture EAN/GTIN/UPC/ISBN data where available. 

• Confirm whether their order, product, supplier, marketplace and shipping systems can capture the required PID data and pass it into the customs declaration at item level. 

Further information can be found on Royal Mail - European Trade Insights | Royal Mail Group Ltd

For the PowerPoint please head to section marked Account Customer Guidance

Where Can I Get More Information?

For more information about these changes and what they mean for you, please visit the following:

• Department for Business and Trade - EU Union Customs Code (UCC) reforms – changes for goods valued at or below EUR 150Opens in a new window) 

• European Commission - https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/modernising-the-eu-customs-union/