It is really not an issue, they gave you a wrong answer because it is illogical that you can trade ETF options but no ETFs. But there is no logic as these rules are made by the EU and so there's no "market logic" in it.
(to take away your liquidation worries: you still are allowed to hold (non KID) ETFs, you are only not allowed to do opening transactions (i.e. initiate long or short). So in the theoretical scenario you are not allowed to trade ETF options anymore, you can still hold them and close whenever you want)