Why are HP printer cartridges country specific? Is there any way around this?

I have just moved from the UK to Newfoundland, Canada and I have brought my HP PSC 1610 printer with me.  I was advised not to bring any cartridges with me because they would explode during the flight so I had to buy new cartridges upon arrival.
I noticed that the cartridge numbers recommended for my printer were similar but not exactly the same but the (HP, etc.) websites I looked at did not mention that HP printer cartridges country specific.
In the UK black cartridge is an HP338 (C8765EE).
In Canada the websites told me that the black cartridge is a 94 (C8765WC).
I ordered a 94 cartridge (which took an indordinate amount of time to be delivered) and when I installed it my printer would not accept it ("not intended for use in this printer" error message) even though it fit perfectly.  I looked at the packaging in greater detail and noticed that I had been sent a 94 (C8765WL) and I also noticed (in a very small font size) "for sale only in Latin America".
My questions are therefore:
1) Why are HP printer cartridges country specific?
2) Is there any way around this?  Eg is there anything I can do to my printer/ laptop to tell it to accept this cartridge?
3) Are 94/ C8765WL cartidges compatible with 94/ C8765WC cartirdges?  Ie did the supplier sell me something that couldn't be used even if I had a Canadian HP PSC 1610 printer?
4) Can I return the cartridges to the supplier given that it is based in Canada, they delivered it to me in Canada and yet they sold me a product that says "for sale only in Latin America"?
Thanks
anenglishmaninsaintjohns

You will need to Contact HP to request a "Regionalization Reset". There should not be any charge for this, it is covered as part of the cartridge warranty. You will need to have access to your computer and printer while on the line with HP. You will also need to have a set of cartridges for the new region, once the reset is complete cartridges from the original region will no longer work.  HP's web page on the subject is here.
Bob Headrick,  HP Expert
I am not an employee of HP, I am a volunteer posting here on my own time.
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