Amazon’s expansion into Ireland will open up a projected €500M+ market and give brands a powerful new platform to grow their Amazon footprint. But with new GPSR (General Product Safety Regulations) complications and other compliance challenges to deal with, we wanted to give those thinking of expanding into the market a brief lowdown – looking at how to get started, who’s affected by GPSR and how to navigate these challenges…
Getting started – our 4-step checklist to selling on Amazon.ie
1. Prepare your product listings
Ireland should be live for your brand now in Seller Central, and the Build International Listings (BIL) tool is brilliant at simplifying the process of listing your products on Amazon.ie – here’s how:
- Sync your listings in bulk by accessing the BIL tool under the “Sell Globally” section in Seller Central.
- Your offers will be automatically translated (if needed) into English for Irish customers.
- Prices will automatically be shown in Euros – you can adjust them in BIL if needed.
- Once set up, BIL will regularly update and sync your listings across linked accounts.
2. FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) is your friend
Especially when you’re just moving into a new International market, using FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) programme makes things so much easier logistically, because:
- It means you can ship your inventory to a local fulfilment centre, benefiting from domestic fees and streamlining your logistics.
- Then Amazon takes care of storage, packing, shipping, returns and customer service (7 days a week).
3. Understanding VAT requirements
You’ll need to get your head around VAT compliance across the border, because it’s an essential for Sellers on Amazon.ie.
Briefly:
- Non-Irish sellers using Amazon.ie’s domestic FBA program need to register for VAT in Ireland.
- For EU sellers not storing goods in Ireland, VAT registration is required if sales exceed the EU-wide distance sales threshold of €10,000 unless enrolled in the One Stop Shop system.
- Irish-based sellers must register for VAT if their domestic sales exceed €80,000 annually.
If you’re not sure, this is one area you absolutely should seek expert advice – click here to speak to our team.
And, for a little background information, we covered international VAT in our specialist webinar with tax specialists Taxually – you can watch on demand here.
4. GPSR Compliance is essential
Coming into effect on 13 December 2024, the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) replaces the EU General Product Safety Directive.
Read on for a deeper dive into the potential challenges GPSR raises for UK Sellers…
What’s GPSR, and how might it impact your Amazon business?
GPSR strengthens safety requirements for consumer products sold in the EU, and it impacts Sellers in a number of key ways:
- GPSR applies to all businesses selling consumer products in the EU, including those using Amazon.ie.
- UK brands not based in the EU face an additional hurdle, as GPSR requires products sold into the EU to have an authorised representative based in the EU.
- Sellers need to ensure that all products being sold internationally comply with GPSR requirements, including traceability, detailed product documentation and accurate labelling.
- Without compliance, UK-based brands could find it harder to take advantage of Amazon.ie’s opportunities, because failing to meet regulations can lead to product delistings.
Need expert help? Speak to our team today.
How to navigate GPSR
Here’s a quick lowdown on navigating GPSR compliance requirements:
Review your product safety protocols
First, evaluate your existing processes to make sure your products meet the updated GPSR standards – this will include confirming your manufacturing practices, materials and testing procedures align with the new safety requirements.
Update your documentation
GPSR places a strong emphasis on traceability and accurate product labelling, so get your product information, technical documentation and product labels up to date and compliant with EU standards.
Appoint an EU-based authorised representative
If you’re a UK-based seller or operating from outside the EU, you’ll need to designate an authorised representative within the EU to act on your behalf. This representative has to ensure that your products meet EU safety requirements and serve as the point of contact for compliance inquiries.
Get help from the experts
The new regulations can be complex, especially for brands new to the ins and outs of EU product safety laws. If you don’t know what you’re doing, enlisting the help of a good partner now will save you time and effort – making sure you’re compliant as efficiently and effectively as possible, avoiding potential delays and protecting your Amazon account.
The Bottom Line
The launch of Amazon.ie is a great opportunity for brands to launch and grow their presence in an expanding market – but there are VAT and GPSR compliance challenges that UK-only Sellers will need to overcome first.
It should be noted though that these challenges are relevant to any EU expansion, so dealing with them now sets the stage for easier expansion into other European stores.
And, with tools like the Build International Listings (BIL) and the FBA programme at hand, there’s lots of potential for Sellers to scale efficiently.
If you’re looking to get an international Amazon expansion strategy up and running, our expert team is here to help – let’s chat today.