Product Identifiers: mandatory from 1 November 2026

From 1 November 2026, every item/product line in a B2C shipment into the EU must have its own Product Identifiers, whatever the value. Customs can hold, delay, or reject parcels with any missing data.

There are up to three identifiers per item:

• M-PID (Merchant Product ID): your own identifier, usually a SKU.

• NS-PID (Non-Standardised Manufacturer Product ID): the manufacturer's own model or part number. This is the one most sellers are missing.

• S-PID (Standardised Product ID): an internationally recognised code such as a GTIN, EAN, UPC or ISBN.

What to keep in mind:

• Identifiers must be set at variant level. A t-shirt in three colours and four sizes is 12 products, and each needs its own set of unique product identifiers.

• Batch-level and lot-level identifiers are rejected.

• Since 2 February 2026, the EU has also required clearer customs descriptions under its ICS2 programme. Avoid brand names, colours, serial numbers and internal codes. Say what the product is, its essential characteristics, and what it is made from.