European Union
GermanyChina sourcing guide
Plan your purchase from China, with supplier checks, import paperwork and delivery considered before shipment.
Discuss your sourcing needsPlan your first order
- Confirm whether the SKU is covered by harmonized EU rules and needs CE marking.
- Build the declaration of conformity and technical documentation where required.
- Map GPSR, REACH, RoHS, and WEEE obligations by product category.
- Secure EORI and define the EU importer-of-record structure.
- Verify origin, HS classification, and landed-cost assumptions for Germany.
- Update pricing and margin models for VAT and the 2026 customs-duty reform.
Import requirements
For Germany, compliance is part of the buying decision before price: GPSR, CE, REACH, RoHS, VAT, and customs all shape the landed model.
- GPSR
- CE / DoC
- REACH / RoHS
- EORI / VAT
GPSR is already live
Regulation (EU) 2023/988 applies from December 13, 2024, so safety, traceability, and marketplace incident handling are current obligations.
EUR-Lex GPSRLow-value duty relief is ending
The Council formally approved the removal of under-€150 customs-duty relief on February 11, 2026. An interim €3-per-item-category duty applies from July 1, 2026 until the new customs data hub is operational.
Council of the EUCE is conditional, not universal
The EU explains that CE marking only applies to products covered by harmonized EU rules, and the declaration plus technical file must be retained for at least 10 years.
Your Europe CE markingChemicals obligations stay importer-led
REACH affects EU manufacturers, importers, and downstream users, and substances at one tonne or more per year must be registered with ECHA unless an only representative is appointed.
Your Europe REACH FAQFrom order to delivery
Scope the SKU
Confirm the product category, HS code, and whether GPSR, CE, REACH, RoHS, or WEEE rules apply.
Set the importer structure
Assign the EU importer of record and make sure the business can clear customs with an EORI number.
File entry
Submit customs documentation with the supporting compliance file and account for VAT and any duty due.
Keep sale-ready proof
Retain the technical file, declaration, and safety records so authority checks do not stall sales later.
Market context
Treat Germany as a compliance-led EU entry market: buyers need GPSR traceability, CE evidence where applicable, and a customs/VAT model that assumes formal import scrutiny rather than low-value parcel shortcuts.
Compliance is the moat
GPSR applies from December 13, 2024, and CE marking is only valid for products covered by harmonized EU rules.
Low-value shortcuts are fading
On February 11, 2026, the Council formally approved the end of under-€150 customs-duty relief, with an interim €3-per-item system starting July 1, 2026.
The documentation stack is mature
EORI, REACH, RoHS, WEEE, and importer traceability create a repeatable import workflow for serious EU buyers.
Choosing your sourcing partners
- Choose a partner who can read both product compliance and customs data, not just freight terms.
- Ask how they handle CE evidence, test reports, and technical-file retention.
- Verify they understand Germany-specific importer responsibilities and EU-wide customs rules.
- Prefer teams that can revisit landed-cost models as the EU small-parcel duty reform lands.