Custom Sunglasses for EU Importers & Brands
CE marking to EN ISO 12312-1, REACH compliance, EU customs and VAT guidance, and pan-European logistics for eyewear brands and distributors.
Selling sunglasses in European Union
The European Union is a large, design-conscious and tightly regulated eyewear market. Sunglasses are treated as Personal Protective Equipment under the EU PPE Regulation, so CE marking is mandatory and chemical compliance under REACH is strictly enforced. LumiShades supplies EU brands and distributors with fully CE-documented, REACH-compliant sunglasses and pan-European delivery.
EU standard: CE marking to EN ISO 12312-1
In the EU, sunglasses fall under the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 as Category I PPE, and CE marking against the harmonized standard EN ISO 12312-1 is mandatory before placing product on the market. The standard covers UV transmittance, lens categories (0-4), optical quality and labeling. CE conformity requires a technical file, an EU type-examination certificate from a Notified Body, and an EU Declaration of Conformity. The importer (the entity placing goods on the EU market) carries legal responsibility, so documentation must be in order.
LumiShades maintains the test reports and technical documentation needed to support CE marking to EN ISO 12312-1, and we apply correct labeling — the CE mark, lens category and care/identification information — to packaging. We also ensure materials meet REACH restrictions on substances such as certain phthalates, nickel release and PAHs in frames and components, and can supply REACH declarations for your dossier.
Import duties, VAT & customs
Sunglasses are classified under CN code 9004 10 in the EU Combined Nomenclature, with a Common Customs Tariff duty of approximately 2.9% on goods from China. Import VAT applies at the destination member state's rate (commonly 19-25%) on the customs value plus duty plus freight, and is generally reclaimable by VAT-registered importers. An EORI number is required to import into the EU.
The importer of record is responsible for customs declaration, duty, VAT and ensuring CE conformity. Landed cost = FOB price + freight + ~2.9% duty + destination VAT + clearance. We offer FOB and CIF for established importers and door-to-door DDP into major EU markets for smaller buyers and e-commerce sellers who want a single delivered price.
Logistics & lead time to the EU
We ship to Rotterdam, Hamburg and Antwerp — the main gateways for onward distribution across the EU — plus air freight into Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Paris. Indicative transit: express air 4-7 days for samples; air freight 6-10 days; ocean to North European ports roughly 30-38 days port-to-port. Add clearance and inland delivery to your final destination.
For an EU seasonal launch, allow 7-10 days for samples, 25-35 days production and ocean transit, plus a Chinese New Year buffer. Because sunglasses are cube-light, LCL is cost-effective for smaller EU orders, while full ranges justify an FCL into Rotterdam with inland trucking across the bloc.
Why EU buyers source from LumiShades
- ✓Vertically integrated factory in Wenzhou — frame, lens, decoration and packaging in-house since 2009.
- ✓MOQ just 50 pairs, samples in 7-10 days, production in 25-35 days.
- ✓Full compliance documentation and correctly-labeled packaging for your market.
- ✓Flexible Incoterms — FOB, CIF or door-to-door DDP.
- ✓98.5% on-time delivery across 60+ countries; 5M+ pairs shipped a year.