From July 1, the EU ends the duty exemption for online parcels from third countries worth under €150 (~$176), adding a €3 (~$4) duty per item.
Platforms or firms in the sale and transport chain pay customs authorities, not shoppers at delivery.
Retail importers and online operators face closer checks as product identifiers become mandatory from November 2026.
The commission further stated the abolished exemption had covered packages worth less than €150 (~$176), and that affected goods will now carry a €3 (~$4) customs duty per item. It said 5.9 billion low-value items from third countries entered the EU duty-free in 2025, while more than 16 million packages are cleared by customs to EU consumers every day. Low-value packages represent 97 per cent of imported items but only 2 per cent of import value, according to the Commission.
It also linked the measure to product safety controls. A 2025 EU-wide investigation cited by the commission found that more than 60 per cent of low-value goods entering the EU did not comply with product requirements or safety standards. The new measure introduces product identifiers, intended to improve risk management and help authorities detect non-compliant goods. Their use is voluntary from July 1, 2026 and will become mandatory from November 2026.
The €3 duty is a transitional measure agreed by EU Member States. From July 2028, the EU Customs Data Hub is due to become operational, with normal customs duties applied based on tariff classification, origin and value. The wider EU Customs Reform also includes a handling fee on goods imported into the EU, to be introduced no later than November 1, 2026.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk
