by InTrieste
A new European Union customs duty on low-value parcels from outside the bloc took effect on July 1, marking a significant change for millions of online purchases made through international e-commerce platforms.
The measure introduces a fixed €3 customs duty on individual parcels valued below €150 arriving from non-EU countries. Approved by the Council of the European Union in December 2025, the policy is intended to address the rapid growth of inexpensive imports—particularly from Chinese online retailers such as Shein and Temu—and to create fairer competition for European businesses.
Previously, parcels worth less than €150 entered the European Union without customs duties. EU officials argued that the exemption contributed to unfair competition for domestic retailers, increased fraud risks, raised concerns over product safety and consumer protection, and added to the environmental impact of high-volume international shipping.
The new duty applies to each item shipped directly to consumers. For example, purchasing three separate products—such as a pair of shoes, a dress, and a hat—would result in a total customs duty of €9. In most cases, the cost is expected to be borne by the online marketplace, seller, or logistics company involved in the transaction, rather than being charged directly to consumers.
The European Commission estimates that 5.9 billion low-value parcels entered the EU without customs duties in 2025, representing more than 97 percent of imported parcels and averaging about 16 million customs clearances each day. EU authorities have also cited product safety concerns, noting that more than 60 percent of online purchases inspected in 2025—including cosmetics, electronics, toys, and food supplements—did not comply with European safety standards.
The €3 duty is intended as a temporary measure ahead of broader customs reforms that will eliminate the €150 duty-free threshold entirely.
In Italy, a separate national €2 charge on small parcels from outside the European Union, originally scheduled to take effect on July 1, has been postponed until Oct. 1.
The Italian government approved the delay in late June to avoid imposing a combined €5 charge on imported parcels while the new EU duty was introduced. Officials said the postponement will allow the national measure to be aligned with a forthcoming EU-wide customs handling fee, which member states are expected to implement by November.
