Beginning November 1, 2026, new customs requirements for shipments entering the European Union (EU) will require additional information to identify the products inside your packages.
This information includes Product Identifier Numbers (PIDs), which help customs authorities identify individual products and process shipments more accurately.
If you're shipping merchandise to customers in the EU, here's what you need to know 🌍
Which shipments require Product Identifier Numbers?
Product Identifiers are required for business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments entering the EU, regardless of the shipment's value.
These requirements don't apply to business-to-business (B2B) shipments, personal gifts sent between individuals, or shipments containing documents.
Providing accurate Product Identifiers is important! Missing or incorrect information may prevent you from purchasing your shipping label or cause your package to be delayed or rejected by customs.
What are the different types of Product Identifier Numbers?
There are three types of Product Identifiers used to identify merchandise:
Merchant Product ID (M-PID): This is what you use to track a product in your inventory, such as a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU). For example, if you sell handmade candles, you might use CANDLE-VANILLA-01 to identify a particular candle.
Manufacturer Product ID (NS-PID): This is assigned to a product by its manufacturer, such as a model number or manufacturer part number. You don't need this identifier for products you make yourself.
Standardized Product ID (S-PID): This is assigned to a product, such as a Universal Product Code (UPC), European Article Number (EAN), Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), or International Standard Book Number (ISBN). In Pirate Ship, this information is entered in the Barcode Number field.
Pro Pirate Tip: If your products don't already have SKUs, you can create your own Merchant Product IDs! Just make sure to use the same identifier each time you ship the same product. Keeping your identifiers consistent helps ensure your merchandise can be accurately identified.
How do I enter Product Identifier Numbers in Pirate Ship?
When creating a shipping label to an EU destination, Pirate Ship will automatically display the EU Product Identifiers section of your customs form.
Enter the appropriate Product Identifiers for each item in your shipment. Not all fields are required for every product:
Product ID: Enter the SKU or other identifier you use to track the product.
Manufacturer ID: Enter the identifier assigned by the manufacturer. If you manufacture the product yourself, you can leave this field empty.
Barcode Number: Enter the product's standardized identifier, if applicable.
If a PID is required, the checkbox will be greyed out so the extra fields are mandatory:
Once you've entered your customs information, you can continue creating your shipping label as usual.
The new IDs will appear in the Customs Form section of the Shipment Details box after the label is purchased.
Note: At this time, UPS is the only carrier that will show the PID's on the label and invoice.