When I stopped shipping to European Union countries, I knew the packaging regulations were still developing. I've continued to keep an eye on them.
For a very small U.S. business like HD Welding Hats, the issue isn't the packaging itself. It's the registration, reporting, recycling and compliance requirements that can come with sending even a small number of orders into EU countries. With only a handful of European orders each year, those requirements currently make EU shipping impractical for my business.
There are discussions underway in Europe about simplifying some of these requirements, although the changes currently being considered don't necessarily solve the problem for small businesses outside the EU.
So, for now, EU shipping will remain unavailable — but I haven't forgotten about my European customers.
I'll continue watching the regulations. If the requirements change enough to make occasional shipping from a small U.S. business practical again, I'll happily take another look at opening those destinations.
If you're in the EU and this issue affects your ability to buy from small businesses outside Europe, you may also want to follow the legislation and make your own views known to your representatives.
If anything changes on my end, I'll update the store here.
