This page explains what product identifiers are, where to enter them in nShift TMS, and what to do if your carrier needs them.

When to use this

Use this page if you ship goods from outside the EU, for example from the UK, Norway, or Switzerland, to consumers in the EU. Business-to-business (B2B) shipments to VAT-registered receivers are not affected.

Key concepts

• Product identifier: a code on the customs declaration that tells customs exactly which product is in the parcel. The EU asks for three of them for each item.
• Merchant Product ID: your own code for the product, such as your SKU or article number. TMS doesn’t have a separate field for it yet. If your carrier asks for it, submit a request in the Help center.
• Manufacturer Product Id: the code the manufacturer gives the product, such as a model, part, or style number. It is required for every product. It must come from the manufacturer and must not be a copy of your own SKU. If you make the product yourself, use your own model number.
• Standardised Product Id: a code from an international standard, usually the barcode number on the packaging, such as a GTIN, EAN, UPC, or ISBN. It is required when the product has one.

Steps

1. Select New consignment.
2. Fill in the sections as usual, and go to the Customs section.
3. For each customs line, enter the manufacturer’s code in Manufacturer Product Id. If the product has a barcode, also enter the barcode number in Standardised Product Id. Enter the code only, for example 5901234123457.
4. Select Book & Print.

Tip

If you send shipments to TMS through an integration, use the following CustomsClearance field names:

• manufacturerProductId
• standardisedProductId

Important

The fields are shown only for the carrier services where they are switched on. If you don’t see them, submit a request in the Help center and we will switch them on for you.

Important dates

The EU has changed the customs rules for low-value goods. Since 1 July 2026, goods worth €150 or less are no longer exempt from customs duty when they are imported into the EU. A customs duty of €3 per item applies to business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments. From 1 November 2026, an EU handling fee of €2 per item also applies, and the customs declaration must include product identifiers for each item.

Some carriers already check for product identifiers. UPS validates them from 25 October 2026, and FedEx makes them mandatory from 26 October 2026. If a shipment is missing them, the carrier can reject the booking, or the shipment can be delayed or returned.

Which carriers need product identifiers

UPS, FedEx, DHL Express, and DPD have announced that they need product identifiers for B2C shipments into the EU. TMS is adding support carrier by carrier, starting with FedEx and UPS.

Note

If your carrier needs product identifiers and isn’t supported yet, or a booking is rejected because product identifiers are missing, submit a request in the Help center. Include your TMS domain, the carrier service, and an example shipment number. We will help you find a solution.

Field descriptions

Related topics

• Information about the EU de minimis removal: the matching article for nShift Ship.
• EU customs reform: the European Commission’s page on the new rules.