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EU product identifiers by platform: Etsy, eBay, WooCommerce, Shopify
The requirement is the same for everyone selling to EU consumers from outside the EU. What differs is how much of the data each platform already holds.
| Platform | Merchant code | Barcode | Maker's code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Variant SKU | Variant Barcodes (Variant Barcode in older files) | No column made for it — a variant metafield or a side sheet (a Google Shopping MPN column is not in every export) |
| WooCommerce | SKU | GTIN/UPC/EAN field (recent versions) or a plugin | Usually none — custom attribute |
| Etsy | Listing ID / SKU | Optional; many handmade items have none (use Y081 where genuinely none) | If you make it, your own model reference; if you resell, the supplier's |
| eBay | Item ID / custom label (SKU) | UPC/EAN field on the listing | MPN field exists on many categories |
The shared problem
Every platform can give you the merchant code, most can give you the barcode, and almost none has the maker's code for resold goods. That field is collected from suppliers, not from software. Start here.
If your catalog lives in Shopify, the free checker shows the gaps in your export in a minute.
Questions
I sell on a marketplace that handles customs — do I still need this?
Some marketplaces and their logistics partners collect identifiers for you. Check your marketplace's seller notices for 'product identifier' or 'PID'. If they do, follow their process; if not, you supply the data to your carrier.
Handmade goods without barcodes?
Use your own model reference as both merchant code and maker's code when you are the maker, and declare Y081 for the missing barcode. Confirm with your carrier.