From 13 December 2024, I will no longer be able to ship portraits, prints, or gifts to EU or Northern Ireland addresses.
New EU regulations aimed at ensuring all products sold within the EU are safe for consumers take effect on 13 December 2024. These regulations specifically affect items that are imported from outside the EU and, for the purposes of product standards, this also includes products that are imported into Northern Ireland even if they originate in Great Britain
Products placed in the EU market are required to meet certain safety standards in order to protect consumers. Furthermore, they must be labelled and/or accompanied by documentation that supports the seller’s claim that they are safe – for example explaining what they are made of, how they are to be used, and what measures the consumer must take to ensure they are used safely.
Clearly, as someone who produces portraits made from paper, and gifts made from card, ceramic, metal, and glass, there is no question that these items are safe to be placed in your home.
However, a key element of these new regulations is the requirement for sellers to have a legal entity (business, or authorised representative) registered in the EU that can act as a point of contact for customers and authorities when any questions relating to product safety arise. Unfortunately, I do not have representation in Europe and, although there are companies able to offer this service, it would not be cost-effective for me to do so.
From 13 December 2024, I simply will not be able to deliver any of my work or products to addresses in the EU or Northern Ireland, as there is a very high chance that they will be returned or destroyed by customs on arrival. Orders placed on my website after this date will be cancelled and refunded. However, if you travel to/from Great Britain or have friends/family here, then I will be able to deliver to their address for you to collect.
I apologise for the inconvenience. I am sad and frustrated by this, as I love selling to customers in the EU. I know my products are inherently safe, but I simply cannot afford to comply fully with these regulations.