Etsy Advises Sellers Of New Requirements For Shipping To EU
New consumer protection directives in the European Union may require professional sellers who ship to the EU to identify themselves to buyers as “traders.”
We wanted to let you know about a new consumer protection directive that has passed in the European Union and how it may impact your shop. This directive requires professional sellers who ship to the EU to identify themselves to buyers as “traders.” Under EU law, traders are required to provide the right to withdraw to their consumers (also known as “right of withdrawal”). Some exclusions apply, such as customized, made-to-order, and digital items.
If you set your Etsy shop up as a business when you registered for Etsy or Etsy Payments, you may be considered a “trader” under the directive. The definition of a “trader” under this directive may vary depending on which countries in the EU you ship to. If you’re unsure, we recommend that you reach out to a legal advisor.
If you ship to buyers in the EU, and are considered a professional seller (or trader), then you should take the following steps to comply with EU laws if you wish to continue to sell in the EU:
- Adjust your return policies in the Settings section of your Shop Manager to offer a minimum of 14-day returns to adhere to the “right to withdrawal.”
- Add your contact information in the seller details section underneath your return policies. By doing so, we will automatically display “trader” status and the required contact information on your listings.
- If you set your Etsy shop up as a business when you registered for Etsy or Etsy Payments, we’ve automatically add “trader” status to your listings. You can switch off “trader” status if you don’t believe these regulations apply to your shop.
If you are unable to comply with these regulations, then we recommend you adjust your shipping profiles to no longer ship to buyers in the EU.Learn more about the EU Omnibus Directive here.
We know you may have questions, so check out some common FAQs below:
Q: Who does this apply to?
A: This law applies to any “traders” that ship to the EU, which may include, but is not limited to, business sellers, professional sellers, or incorporated businesses. If you set your Etsy shop up as a business when you registered for Etsy or Etsy Payments, you may be considered a “trader” under EUlaws.
This is an EU directive and Etsy will try and help you navigate your Etsy shop, but if you have any legal questions or concerns about whether this applies to you, please contact your legal advisor.
Q: How do I know if I’m a professional seller or “trader”?
A: The definition of a trader under this directive may vary depending on which countries in the EU you ship to. If you’re unsure, we recommend that you reach out to a legal advisor.
Q: What if I want to sell to EU consumers but can’t offer a 14-day return policy?
A: The EU Omnibus Directive has gone into effect. As a result, all eligible businesses are required to offer EU buyers a 14-day “right of withdrawal” in the form of a returns policy.
While EU law requires that businesses offer returns, how you process them is up to you. For example, you can ask your buyers to cover the cost of returns and exchanges if applicable.
Q: What types of items are excluded?
A: This directive excludes made-to-order and customized items, digital items, certain perishable goods, and goods that can’t be reused for health or hygiene reasons and are unsealed after delivery.
Q: What kind of information will be shown to buyers?
A: As part of this directive, traders are required to display information to buyers, like your name, location, and contact information. Only buyers in EU countries will be able to see these details on a trader’s shop page.
Q: How is my information protected? How can Etsy minimize abuse of my contact info?
We respect your privacy. Etsy will not disclose your name, email address, or other personal information to third parties without your consent, except as specified in this policy. Source: https://www.etsy.com/legal/privacy
