EU customs reform targets low-value online imports
Low-value e-commerce imports now face new EU customs duties designed to tackle unsafe products and unfair competition.
The EU has abolished the customs duty exemption for e-commerce parcels worth less than €150, introducing a temporary €3 duty on low-value items imported directly from non-EU countries.
The measure entered into force on 1 July 2026 and forms part of the wider EU Customs Reform. It is intended to create fairer competition between the EU retailers and non-EU online sellers while strengthening controls on unsafe or non-compliant products.
The previous exemption was designed for an earlier period of limited cross-border online shopping. The Commission said 5.9 billion low-value parcels entered the EU in 2025, representing 97% of all imported items but only 2% of their total value.
The EU authorities argue that the exemption distorted competition and created incentives to undervalue or split shipments to remain below the €150 threshold.
Under the new system, consumers should not have to pay the duty at the time of delivery. Businesses involved in selling and transporting imported goods will be responsible for customs payment and compliance.
The €3 duty is a transitional measure and will remain in place until 1 July 2028. After that, low-value imports will be treated under the standard customs framework, with duties based on product classification, origin and value.
The reform also introduces Product Identifiers, which become mandatory from 1 November 2026 to improve traceability and safety checks. A separate handling fee for imported e-commerce goods is also expected by November 2026.
Why does it matter?
The change addresses one of the biggest pressure points in the EU e-commerce: billions of low-value parcels entering the single market with limited customs duties and weak product-level data. Removing the exemption could reduce unfair advantages for non-EU sellers, strengthen enforcement against unsafe products and give customs authorities better tools to manage mass e-commerce imports. It also shows how the EU is treating online retail as a trade, consumer protection and digital platform accountability issue, not only a customs matter.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!