EU Shipping Discontinued with Immediate Effect

We are very sorry to let our customers in the European Union know that we have had to discontinue all shipping to EU countries with immediate effect.

Following Brexit, shipping from the UK to the European Union had already become considerably more complicated, and over the past few years we had therefore greatly reduced the range of products we were able to send to EU customers.

Unfortunately, the EU’s new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which becomes generally applicable on 12 August 2026, introduces further registration, reporting and producer-responsibility requirements for businesses sending packaged goods to customers within the EU.

For a very small independent business based in the Outer Hebrides, complying with these requirements across individual EU member states would involve a level of administration and additional cost that we simply cannot manage.

With only two days remaining before the new rules take effect, there is also no longer sufficient time for us to accept and reliably process further EU orders under the existing arrangements. We can therefore no longer accept or fulfil any orders with a delivery address within the European Union.

This is particularly frustrating for us because sustainability has always been important to the Hebridean Tea Store. Our teas are packed in 100% compostable grass-paper bags, our labels are unlaminated paper, and we use cardboard boxes for our postal orders. Nevertheless, even environmentally responsible packaging falls within the scope of the new regulations.

We know this will be disappointing, particularly for those of you who have been ordering your favourite teas from us for many years. We are genuinely sorry to lose this remaining connection with our EU customers.

We will continue to keep an eye on future developments and very much hope that one day there will again be a practical and affordable way for small UK businesses like ours to sell directly to customers in the EU.

Please note: this change applies only to delivery addresses within the European Union. UK and non-EU international shipping remain unaffected.

Thank you, as always, for supporting our little independent tea shop in the Outer Hebrides.