EU Approves New €3 Customs Charge on Low-Value Imports
The European Union is tightening its approach to low-value ecommerce imports. The Council of the European Union has signed off on new customs rules that will end the long-standing exemption for parcels worth up to €150.
From July 1, small shipments entering the EU will be subject to a flat customs duty of €3 per product category contained in the parcel.
Record Number of Parcels Entering the EU
The move comes amid a surge in low-cost ecommerce imports. Last year, around 5.8 billion small parcels entered the EU — a 26 percent increase compared to 2024 and more than four times the volume seen in 2022.
A large share of these shipments originates from China, fueled by cross-border ecommerce platforms that ship directly to European consumers. The scale of this growth has raised concerns among EU member states.
Enforcement Challenges and Non-Compliant Goods
Customs authorities across the bloc are struggling to keep up. The sheer number of incoming parcels makes systematic inspections nearly impossible.
According to recent large-scale inspections, most goods sent directly from third countries to EU consumers fail to meet European product and safety standards. Regulators warn that this situation not only exposes consumers to potential risks but also places European businesses at a competitive disadvantage.
The European Commission has acknowledged that ecommerce imports are expanding faster than enforcement systems can adapt.
How the New Flat-Rate Duty Will Work
The newly approved measure introduces an interim customs charge:
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€3 per product category in a parcel
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Applies to shipments valued under €150
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Covers goods sent directly to consumers in the EU
If a parcel contains items from two different categories, the total customs duty would amount to €6.
This rule is separate from the proposed “handling fee” that remains under discussion as part of a broader customs reform.
Looking Ahead: Full Reform by 2028
The €3 flat-rate duty is a temporary solution ahead of the planned launch of the EU Customs Data Hub, expected in 2028. Once operational, the system will abolish the €150 threshold entirely, meaning all imported goods will become subject to customs duties.
For cross-border ecommerce sellers, the changes signal higher compliance requirements and potentially higher costs. The new framework could also slow the growth of ultra-low-cost imports into the European market in the coming years.