ReutersOnline marketplace Etsy has said it plans to follow other e-commerce sites by making it easier for UK sellers to close sales in Northern Ireland.
New EU rules This means that small businesses in the UK must comply with stricter requirements if they want to sell to Northern Ireland or the EU.
Some platforms, such as eBay, have responded by allowing sellers in the UK to effectively reject orders from Northern Ireland.
Etsy says it plans to do so early next year after pressure from GB sellers.
In an update to its seller handbook, it said: “We are looking into a solution for sellers who want to stop offering their items to buyers in Northern Ireland.
“We will provide an update on the timing by December 31, 2024.”
Another platform, Folksy, has changed its delivery areas so that the UK now excludes Northern Ireland. Its European delivery area is now the EU and Northern Ireland.
The European Union’s General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) came into effect last week. This applies in Northern Ireland as the Windsor Framework means the region is still effectively in the EU’s single market for goods.
The GPSR updates existing laws to reflect developments in online commerce and aims to provide better protections to consumers.
It also includes the need for a “responsible person” within the EU or Northern Ireland, who is effectively the compliance agent.
This is a particular challenge for small businesses in the UK selling direct to consumers who have no physical presence in the EU or Northern Ireland.
Etsy’s seller handbook warns that if it receives notification from an authority that a product is not GPSR compliant, it will take appropriate action “including removing your listing and/or terminating your account.” May include suspension”.