I got an email from eBay that I don't understand.
Summary: cristian3_6 shared an email from eBay regarding new EU regulations requiring Product Identifier information for items shipped to the EU starting November 2026. 12345jamesstamps noted that it primarily affects those using eBay International Shipping, and sellers can opt-out. norskmediashop expressed frustration about the feasibility of updating numerous items, while bashort and others echoed concerns about the impact on international sales. Some participants discussed potential strategies, like selling only domestically, while others criticized the EU's regulatory approach. Overall, there is confusion and concern among sellers about the practicality of complying with these new requirements.
I received an email from eBay saying this
Starting November 1, 2026, new Product Identifier information will be required for items shipped to buyers in the EU.
Starting November 1, 2026, new Product Identifier information will be required for items shipped to buyers in the EU.
Hi Christian,
You are receiving this email as you have previously sold an item into the European Union (EU).
We wish to keep you updated on upcoming changes introduced by the EU Commission for all imports into the EU. Effective November 1, 2026, Product Identifier (PID) information will be required for all items shipped from outside the EU to buyers in the EU.
The required Product Identifiers are:
Merchant Product Identifier (M-PID): This is your eBay Listing ID, which is available for all your listings under the “About this item” section.
Non-Standardized Manufacturer Product Identifier (NS-PID): This is a product code assigned to the item by the manufacturer, producer, or supplier, such as a manufacturing part number (MPN), or any code used to specifically identify the product you are shipping. For example, for a Google Pixel phone, the MPN could be GA09765-US-PREM. If you do not know the NS-PID, we recommend searching for it online. We understand that not all product categories will have a separate NS-PID. We will continue to provide guidance as it becomes available.
Standardized Product Identifier (S-PID): This refers to a globally recognized identifier, such as a GTIN, EAN, UPC, ISBN, or another standardized product identifier, that can be used to identify the exact product being shipped. For example, for a Google Pixel phone, the UPC could be 026591442234. Where an S-PID exists, it can also be used as the NS-PID.
What you need to do
Please keep your listings updated and provide any manufacturer/standardized Product IDs where available. PIDs are acceptable for EU imports on a voluntary basis as of today, with no penalty for shipping without them before the deadline. That means you can enter and test your product data today, catch gaps in your catalog, and fix them before the deadline.
Why this matters
It is important that you provide the required PIDs so your inventory remains eligible to EU buyers if you use eBay International Shipping (eIS). If you self-ship or use SpeedPak, failure to provide the required PID information to carrier your may result in potential delivery disruption, increased processing time, or other customs clearance delays.
We will continue to provide updated guidance as it becomes available. For more information, visit the EU Customs Page.
Thank you for being part of the eBay community.
We'd appreciate hearing from you. Please take a few moments to share your feedback by completing this short survey.
Sincerely,
The eBay Team
I don't understand what needs to be done. Did anyone else receive this? Thanks.
roccotacodad54
·1 week agoTranslation..."The EU once again have lost their collective minds. Good luck dealing with this."
lightningproject
·1 week ago · EditedI am also confused. If the UPC code is provided, is that sufficient information?
1786davycrockett
·1 week agoThere is a longer discussion of this latest EU fiasco here --
https://community.ebay.com/forum/selling-57920/topic/danger-will-robinson-new-eu-product-identifiers-coming-november-1-2026-may-interfere-with-international-ebay-sales-483722/?focus_post=1872306
adamcartwright
·1 week agoSince I use eIS, I'll just do nothing until I get around to figuring it out.
eBay won't allow international buyers to buy my stuff, and that's fine with me.
If there's a particular listing I wish to sell through eIS for its seller protections, I'll figure out what to do for that listing.
christworks
·1 week agoI have shipped to the EU through eIS before. I did not get the email though. There was a post made by eBay on the community board earlier this week that stated pretty much the same thing.
The EU is insane when it comes to regulations. There used to be a way in the eIS settings to exclude the EU. I would have to set that because certain things I sell cannot be sold to buyers in the EU, Levi jeans being one of them. The ability to change that is gone and eBay supposedly now detects those items that cannot be sold in certain regions and blocks them. How well they do that I don't know, but I've no issues selling things into the EU that can be sold.
You are already supposed to provide production information on things like electronics. I don't do that. There is no way I am going to spend countless hours researching and uploading that information to my listings. It isn't feasible and is a complete waste of time for me. I get maybe two EU buyers per month. Sometimes a little more during Q4. I presume ebay does not allow EU buyers to purchase those items.
With regards to the new information, I won't be changing a thing.
This is yet another issue the powerhouses at eBay should be proactively dealing with through the US Government, so that pressure to the EU can be applied and exemptions made. To my knowledge eBay simply rolls over and accepts these regulations. Maybe I'm wrong, but I can hardly give them the benefit of doubt here.
tobaccocardyahoo
·1 week agoWe wish to keep you updated on upcoming changes introduced by the EU Commission for all imports into the EU. Effective November 1, 2026, Product Identifier (PID) information will be required for all items shipped from outside the EU to buyers in the EU.
This applies to all shipments into the EU not just EIS.
If you use EIS you must have this information in your listing.
norskmediashop
·1 week agoWe know this, but its completely impossible and not even remotely realistic.
tobaccocardyahoo
·1 week ago · EditedA step toward forcing all sellers shipping to the EU to deal with issues Amazon sellers deal with in order to list products.
I and many other sellers of collectibles left Amazon because of the difficulty in providing such information.
The EU does not require any hint of realism in its regulations, never has. Bureaucracy for the sake of bureaucracy is a hallmark of the organization.
shire123
·1 week ago@cristian3_6 You and just about everyone else! Given how bureaucratic the EU is this really isn't a surprise. Until ebay makes this easier (if they even can) this will probably kill off the majority of shipments to the EU.
bashort
·1 week agoThe way I read it if you do not have all of the required info the EIS listing will not be available to the EU.
"It is important that you provide the required PIDs so your inventory remains eligible to EU buyers if you use eBay International Shipping (eIS). If you self-ship or use SpeedPak, failure to provide the required PID information to carrier your may result in potential delivery disruption, increased processing time, or other customs clearance delays."
norskmediashop
·1 week ago · Editedthis will end EIS shipping, there is no way for hundreds to thousands of items it is possible to locate and update that many items. They just keep making this impossible, I understand its not ebays fault per say, but this is just not doable in any way. Just more complications making it impossible to do business. And what about collectibles and all those categories??
12345jamesstamps
·1 week agoKey words I notice is 'if you use eBay International Shipping (elS)'.
It only affects those sellers in that.
One can opt-out of elS.
cristian3_6
OP1 week agoSo, is the best solution to sell only to the United States?
12345jamesstamps
·1 week agoI sell internationally.
I use postage from the post office...not labels.
I never put invoices in my items and never had a complaint.
50% of my buyers are international...especially UK and Canada.