Starting March 1, 2023, the European Union has new
requirements for customs forms. If you want to send a package to any
of the countries that are in the EU or that are following their protocol,
you'll have to use more “detailed" descriptions on your customs
forms. If you fail to do so, the customs officials in the receiving
country may return or destroy your package, depending on circumstances and
content.
Guidance for Acceptable Descriptions*
| Unacceptable | Acceptable |
| Clothes | Men's shirts, girls' vest, boy's jacket |
| Appliances | Refrigerator, stove, microwave oven |
| Artwork | Oil painting, pencil sketch, bronze statue |
| Battery | Lithium batteries |
| Gifts | Scented candle, remote-control car, cashmere scarf |
| Medicine | Painkillers, anti-viral spray |
| Health & Beauty Products | Detergent, toothbrush, towels |
| Vegetables | Eggplant, onions, broccoli |
These descriptions will help determine the “HS (Harmonized System) Tariff Code" (or just “HS Code") a 6–14-digit number, for every item in your package, which is used for customs, including to help calculate applicable duties and taxes.
Any questions? Need assistance? Please contact the Mail Customer Service Branch (MCSB) at (301) 496-3586 or via email at mcsbcs@mail.nih.gov.
