Rules checked 15 Sep 2026
EU product rules · GPSR

Should you still
ship to Europe?

The rules apply to you whether you're in Ohio or Osaka. Whether they're worth following depends entirely on how much you actually sell there — and for a lot of small shops, they aren't.

This tool will sometimes tell you to switch EU sales off. Everyone else answering this question sells compliance services. We'd rather you kept your money than bought something you don't need.

First, in plain words

30 seconds

Since December 2024, if you sell physical or digital products to anyone in the European Union, the EU wants a named person inside Europe who is responsible for your products — someone they can contact if something you sold turns out to be unsafe.

You can't be that person from outside the EU. You have to hire a company to do it, and they charge a few hundred to a few thousand a year.

Which raises the only question that matters: if you only make a little money in Europe, is that fee worth paying at all? Often it isn't, and the honest move is to stop selling there. That's what this page works out for you.

Does it apply to you?

Step 1 of 2
Do you sell to buyers in the EU or Northern Ireland?

If someone in France or Germany can buy from you, the answer is yes — even if it's rare. England, Wales and Scotland have their own separate rules. .

What do you sell?

Downloads and software count too — the EU confirmed covers them, and most sellers have no idea.

Exempt: food, feed, medicines, living organisms, aircraft, antiques over 100 years, and items sold for repair before use.

Is it worth it?

Step 2 of 2
Currency

Your average across the last year, not your best month.

orders / month

What's left after materials, fees and shipping. Most handmade sellers land between 25% and 45%.

%

What it costs to hire your . Published rates run from about €139 to £2,390 a year — put in a real quote if you have one, or leave the estimate.

Verdict

Keep selling to the EU

Working it out…

The rules behind this answer
GPSR — in force since 13 December 2024
Consumer products placed on the EU market need a named Responsible Person with an address inside the EU. It applies to sellers anywhere in the world, and covers digital products and software.
Northern Ireland is in, Great Britain is out
England, Wales and Scotland follow separate UK rules. Northern Ireland stays inside the EU regime.
Listings from before the date are generally fine
Products placed on the market before 13 December 2024 don't need new GPSR compliance, and renewing such a listing doesn't automatically make it new.
Switching off EU sales only affects EU buyers
Visibility outside the EEA and Northern Ireland is unaffected. On Etsy the opt-out is shop-wide rather than per listing.
What non-compliance costs
Authorities can fine, ban, or remove products from the market. Marketplaces can remove listings and suspend accounts.