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Buying and importing into the EU

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    We understand that buying and importing products from international brands can be challenging, rules and documentation requirements vary, depending on:

    1. Your country, its laws and regulations
    2. The products you are importing
    3. The country of origin of these products 

     As a retailer on Faire, you are the importer of record, and are responsible for ensuring you have the right to resell the products you purchase on Faire, in compliance with EU and EU country specific laws and regulation.

    We want to help you feel confident buying from international brands.

     

    This guide consists of tips and advice for EU retailers buying and importing international products into the European Union. 

    Please note, this resource is non-exhaustive and purely indicative.

    To learn about general international guidance (not EU specific), visit How to buy internationally on Faire

    How to determine if you can buy, import and resell international products in the EU

    To determine if the products you want to purchase from international brands can be imported, and resold in the EU, we recommend:

    • Consulting governmental websites to check if there are any restrictions or specific requirements for importing the products you wish to purchase internationally.
      • Look into any license requirements, or permit you may need as an importer when purchasing certain products. To learn more, visit Guide for import of goods
      • Looking into potential restrictions enforced by your country, based on the country of manufacturing/origin of the products. 
    • Consulting legal counsel and/or a customs broker to determine your readiness to import given products from a given country.

    Documentation and compliance requirements for the import of international products into the EU

    Upon import of products, as the importer, you may be required to provide some information and/or documentation to support customs clearance of your order.  

     

    You will find non-exhaustive guidance below, to help understand what falls under your responsibility as the importer, if requested by an EU country’s customs agency : 

     

    Document type Retailer responsibility   Brand responsibility
    Documentation specific to your company (if applicable and required) ✔️  
    License or permit to import specific controlled products ✔️  
    Proof of right to resell ✔️  
    Tax related identification for your company  (VAT)
    ✔️    		  
    Importing registration number (EORI) ✔️  
    Completion and Signature of forms for import, if applicable
    ✔️

     
    POA letter (Power of Attorney) if applicable ✔️  
    Packing slip    ✔️
    Commercial invoice    ✔️
    Documentation or information specific to manufacturing practices or information (if applicable)  
    ✔️
    Product specific documentation (if applicable)   ✔️

    Faire does not possess or provide documentation or information specific to your company, your right to trade, purchase and import products into your country. This type of documentation has to be provided by yourself as the importer of record. 

    Get an EORI number

    The “Economic Operators Registration and Identification” (EORI) number is a unique number used by businesses to identify themselves to customs authorities on customs declarations and other import documentation. Think of it as a customs registration number.

    Applying for an EORI number is free. Ensuring you are EORI registered falls under your responsibility as a business buying internationally.

    To learn more about how to apply for an EORI number, please visit How do I apply for an EORI number? You can update your EORI number in your account settings. 

     

    VAT (Value added tax)

    When buying internationally on Faire, VAT will be applied to your orders based on where the brand is shipping the product from at the point of sale. 

    To learn more about how VAT is applied on international orders, visit How do I pay VAT on orders in the EU?

     

    Please note : Non VAT registered retailers in France receiving imported goods from the UK (and any other non EU Member State) are required to register for French VAT in order to self-account for the import VAT arising on the supply. Once registered, retailers will not be able to reclaim this import VAT if they wish to continue to apply the de minimis small business threshold (i.e. where they wish to continue to make supplies within France without VAT). 

    For more information on VAT implications for your business, we recommend consulting your tax advisor.

    Customs broker

    As a retailer buying internationally, you may contract a customs broker to help you with import regulations and compliance. If you have a customs broker, we recommend notifying the brand via Faire Messenger when you place your order, so they can include this on the commercial invoice prior to shipping your order. 

    If your customs brokerage information is included on the commercial invoice, they will be contacted at the time of import to clear the package on your behalf.

    If your customs brokerage information is not provided on the commercial invoice, you will be contacted directly by the carrier to clear the package.

    If you do not have a customs broker and want to authorize carriers to clear customs on your behalf, you will need to draft a POA (Power of Attorney) letter, and share it with the carrier upon request. Please note, this applies to tightly controlled product categories.

    Tightly regulated product categories in the EU

    When importing into the EU, you are required to comply with any import regulations as set out by your country’s Government, including, but not limited to, regulations for controlled goods. Importing controlled goods into your country/region may require additional authorization or clearance.

     Below, we have listed some common controlled goods categories for which additional requirements may apply.

     Please note that guidance and requirements may vary across different EU countries.

    • Controlled goods : products that require licenses or permits for import, or additional documentation from the importer.  There are special rules, and you may need to get licenses or certificates if you are importing any of the following: animal products, plants and plant products, high risk food, food supplements, cosmetics.
    • Dangerous goods (DG): Substances that when transported are a risk to health, safety, property or the environment. Certain dangerous goods that pose risks even when not being transported are known as hazardous materials.
    •  Food products: Food product means any substance, other than a substance used primarily for the purpose of imparting flavor, intended to be consumed by humans or animals. To learn more, visit the following EU government resources :
      • For general information on importing food products into the EU, visit EU entry conditions
      • A Health Check may be requested at customs to import food products, and the importer (retailer) is responsible for the additional fees. 
      • To find more product specific guidance, use My Trade Assistant
    • Cosmetics and skin products: any substance or mixture intended to be placed in contact with the external parts of the human body.
      • Fore more information on importing cosmetics into the EU, as a general resource, visit Cosmetics
      • The EU requires that all cosmetics products sold in the EU are registered in the Cosmetic products notification portal (CPNP). We recommend connecting with the brand on Faire Messenger to verify CPNP registration prior to ordering to avoid customs complications.
      • A Health Check may be requested at customs to cosmetics, and the importer (retailer) is responsible for the additional fees.  
      • To find more product specific guidance, use My Trade Assistant

    Please note, this list is non-exhaustive and purely indicative. Faire takes no responsibility in updating these websites, the resources linked are governmental pages only.

    How do import duties work?

    As the importer, you're responsible for any import duties or taxes charged on international shipments.
    Import duties are based on the type and origin of the goods, as determined by tariff codes provided by the brand.

    For more information on how import duties work, visit How do import duties work?

    Note: A select group of retailers ordering cross-border from eligible US brands shipping to Switzerland, Germany, or Italy may see duties, taxes, and fees charged upfront at checkout rather than as an estimate.

    In cases where import duties are covered by Faire in the context of a promotion or membership such as Insider, you will see free import duties at checkout, to learn more, visit What happens when Faire covers my import duties?

    What happens if customs agencies or carriers require additional information to import my order?

    If you order products internationally, and additional information or documentation is required for customs clearance, upon entrance of the products into the EU or into your country : you might be contacted by a customs agent, carrier, Faire, or the brand you ordered from to provide the necessary information to help clear customs.

    Here are a few things to keep in mind : 

    • You are the importer, the brand is the exporter.
    • The customs agent and/or carrier may reach out to you via phone, or via Faire support on an email thread. The brand would most likely reach out via Faire Messenger.
    • Faire cannot provide : documentation or information specific to your company, your right to trade, purchase and import products into your country.  (i.e.: license, permit, certification, import declarations, etc.)  This has to be provided by yourself as the importer.
    • Orders can typically be “stalled” at a border for a limited time, (this tends to vary between 3 and 5 days maximum)
    • As the importer, it is your responsibility to accept the order, and to facilitate import, providing any information required. 

    If you are unresponsive, or fail to provide the required information/documentation/license, the customs agency may decide to return the shipment. (Return to Sender). This decision is outside of Faire’s control. 

    Please note, Faire keeps record of failures to import international orders, as well as the cost associated with shipping these products back to the brands. Faire reserves the right to review your account as well as ability to order on the platform in accordance with our Terms of Service.