The European Union (EU) has various pieces of legislation that publishers selling into the European Union should be familiar with. The following list is displayed by recency of the date the legislation comes into force:

BookNet’s documentation supporting publishers engaging with this legislation through their exporting activities can be found at the links below, ordered by legislation status.

Toy Safety Regulation (TSR)

• Status: amended draft released February 2025

• Effective: TBD

• Link to draft legislation: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:C_202501032

• Link to EU documentation: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_1039

• BookNet resources:

  • [forthcoming]

• Other publishing industry resources:

  • [forthcoming]

European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)

• Status: in force

• Effective: December 2025

• Link to legislation: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32023R1115&qid=1687867231461

• Link to EU documentation: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/forests/deforestation/regulation-deforestation-free-products_en & https://green-forum.ec.europa.eu/nature-and-biodiversity/deforestation-regulation-implementation_en . EU Guidance and definitions (Aug 12, 2025):

• BookNet resources:

  • https://www.livrescanadabooks.com/Webinar-Archive/EUDR-Essentials-for-Publishers-Understanding-and-Responding-to-the-Regulation

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2025/12/3/eu-deforestation-regulation-update-an-update-from-the-european-commission-and-what-canadian-publishers-need-to-know

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2025/10/29/eu-deforestation-regulation-delay-rethought-an-update-from-the-european-commission-and-what-canadian-publishers-need-to-know

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2025/10/6/eu-deforestation-regulation-potentially-delayed-what-canadian-publishers-need-to-know

  • https://www.greenbookalliance.org/post/eudr-and-how-it-impacts-the-book-industry

  • https://www.greenbookalliance.org/post/eudr-resources-for-the-book-publishing-industry

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2025/8/18/eu-deforestation-regulation-and-onix-advice-worth-reading-from-editeur

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2025/6/5/european-union-deforestation-regulation-working-towards-compliance

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2024/12/17/podcast-an-introduction-to-the-european-union-deforestation-regulation

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2024/9/19/european-deforestation-regulation-eudr-webinar-released

  • https://bnctechforum.ca/sessions/eudr-and-onix-a-supply-chain-lunch-learn/

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2025/5/13/standards-goals-for-2025-a-recap-and-a-conversation-about-what-may-be-next

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2024/11/11/onix-implementers-rejoice-312-is-here

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2025/4/14/onix-codelist-69-released

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2025/2/6/onix-codelist-68-released

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2024/11/11/onix-codelist-67-released

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2024/7/23/onix-codelist-66-released

• Other publishing industry resources:

  • https://knowledgecenter.bisg.org/23c9o46/

  • https://knowledgecenter.bisg.org/2474l34/

  • https://knowledgecenter.bisg.org/22tua92/

  • https://www.bisg.org/news/modeling-the-compounding-cost-of-sustainability-in-the-book-publishing-industry

  • https://knowledgecenter.bisg.org/23snrgg/

  • https://knowledgecenter.bisg.org/24q2css/

  • https://bic.org.uk/resources/resource-centre/bic-green-hub/european-union-deforestation-regulations-eudr/

  • https://bic.org.uk/resources/resource-centre/bic-green-hub/european-union-deforestation-regulations-eudr/

  • https://bic.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BIC-Bites-Introduction-to-EUDR-1.3-19.12.24.pdf

  • https://www.editeur.org/files/videos/20240903%20EUDR%20Lunch%20and%20Learn%20720p.html

  • https://www.editeur.org/files/ONIX 3/APPNOTE EU Deforestation Regulation and ONIX.pdf

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)

• Status: in force

• Effective: July 2025

• Link to legislation: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32022L2464

• Link to EU documentation: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/capital-markets-union-and-financial-markets/company-reporting-and-auditing/company-reporting/corporate-sustainability-reporting_en#legislation

• BookNet resources:

  • [forthcoming]

• Other publishing industry resources:

  • https://www.bisg.org/news/modeling-the-compounding-cost-of-sustainability-in-the-book-publishing-industry

European Accessibility Act (EAA)

• Status: in force

• Effective: June 2025

• Link to legislation: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32019L0882

• Link to EU documentation: https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/disability/union-equality-strategy-rights-persons-disabilities-2021-2030/european-accessibility-act_en

• BookNet resources:

  • https://bnctechforum.ca/sessions/unlocking-the-european-market-preparing-to-comply-with-the-european-accessibility-act/

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2025/5/13/standards-goals-for-2025-a-recap-and-a-conversation-about-what-may-be-next

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2024/9/4/accessibility-metadata-in-onix-advice-worth-reading-from-editeur

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2024/9/26/podcast-the-w3c-and-digital-publishing

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2024/11/11/onix-implementers-rejoice-312-is-here

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2025/8/14/onix-codelist-70-released

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2025/4/14/onix-codelist-69-released

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2023/8/9/onix-codelist-62-released

• Additional accessibility resources:

  • BookNet Canada blog content: https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog?offset=1688502869081&tag=accessibility

  • Tech Forum content: https://bnctechforum.ca/event_cat/accessibility/

• Other publishing industry resources:

  • https://knowledgecenter.bisg.org/23c9o46/

  • https://knowledgecenter.bisg.org/242uvtf/

  • https://knowledgecenter.bisg.org/24ll3dg/

  • https://www.bisg.org/news/have-you-heard-the-eaa-is-coming

  • https://knowledgecenter.bisg.org/24q2css/

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjeT2grA55Q

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCw8oM2wzRs

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqihDP5ZMXQ

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVyhmB2uzU0

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f32amCbxhog

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjU-p9GqebQ

  • https://www.editeur.org/files/ONIX 3/APPNOTE Accessibility metadata in ONIX (advanced).pdf

Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)

• Status: in force

• Effective: February 2025

• Link to legislation: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202500040&pk_campaign=todays_OJ&pk_source=EUR-Lex&pk_medium=X&pk_content=Environment&pk_keyword=Regulation

• Link to EU documentation: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/packaging-waste_en

• BookNet resources:

  • [forthcoming]

• Other publishing industry resources:

  • [forthcoming]

General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR)

• Status: in force

• Effective: December 2024

• Link to legislation: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.L_.2023.135.01.0001.01.ENG&toc=OJ%3AL%3A2023%3A135%3ATOC

• Link to EU documentation: https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/news/eus-general-product-safety-regulation-gpsr-new-era-consumer-protection

• BookNet resources:

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2024/12/23/product-safety-requirements-in-onix-advice-worth-reading-from-editeur

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2024/11/11/onix-implementers-rejoice-312-is-here

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2025/4/14/onix-codelist-69-released

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2025/2/6/onix-codelist-68-released

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2024/11/11/onix-codelist-67-released

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2024/7/23/onix-codelist-66-released

• Other publishing industry resources:

  • https://www.bisg.org/events/european-directives-onix-and-the-importance-of-metadata-in-the-international-book-supply-chain

  • https://bic.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BIC-Bites-Introduction-to-GPSR-1.0.3.pdf

  • https://www.editeur.org/files/ONIX 3/APPNOTE Product safety requirements in ONIX.pdf

Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)

• Status: in force

• Effective: July 2024

• Link to legislation: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1760/oj

• Link to EU documentation: https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/doing-business-eu/sustainability-due-diligence-responsible-business/corporate-sustainability-due-diligence_en

• BookNet resources:

  • [forthcoming]

• Other publishing industry resources:

  • [forthcoming]

Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Legislation (ESPR)

• Status: in force

• Effective: July 2024

• Link to legislation: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32024R1781&qid=1719580391746

• Link to EU documentation: https://commission.europa.eu/energy-climate-change-environment/standards-tools-and-labels/products-labelling-rules-and-requirements/ecodesign-sustainable-products-regulation_en

• BookNet resources:

  • [forthcoming]

• Other publishing industry resources:

  • [forthcoming]

Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE)

• Status: existing Directive under evaluation

• Effective: February 2003

• Link to legislation: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02012L0019-20180704

• Link to EU documentation: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/waste-electrical-and-electronic-equipment-weee_en

• BookNet resources:

  • https://www.booknetcanada.ca/blog/2025/8/29/european-union-e-waste-legislation-information-for-exporters-what-publishers-need-to-know

• Other publishing industry resources:

  • [forthcoming]