EU Implements New Uniform Customs Duty on Small Imports to Curb Unsafe Goods and Boost Fair Trade
Starting Wednesday, the European Union has introduced a uniform customs duty of three euros per item on imported packages valued at 150 euros or less from non-EU countries. This new tax replaces the previous "de minimis" exemption, which allowed such low-value packages to enter the EU duty-free. The measure aims to address the sharp rise in small parcel imports into the bloc in recent years.
The customs duty applies separately to each product type within a package. For example, a shipment containing a book, a notebook, and a pen will incur a total duty of nine euros, while identical items in the same package count as one product type. The charge is applied when the package clears EU customs, even if international platforms display the fee at the point of payment. This is a temporary measure valid for two years until June 30, 2028, or until a broader customs reform is completed. After this period, a regular customs regime based on product categories will take effect, regardless of purchase or shipping method.
Payments are collected by registered importers, typically e-commerce platforms, sellers, or carriers, who may pass the cost to consumers. From November, an additional handling fee of up to two euros per package will be introduced to cover customs processing, pending publication of the EU's new customs code.
EU institutions present the reform as an effort to ensure fair competition for European businesses and equip customs authorities with better tools to intercept unsafe or fraudulent products amid the surge in small shipments. Inspections have found that over 60% of incoming goods contain prohibited components or lack required safety documentation, with about 70% failing to meet EU safety standards. The EU stresses the policy is about trade fairness and market protection, not targeting any specific country.
The volume of small packages entering the EU has ballooned to billions annually, with 4.6 to 6 billion small commercial parcels valued up to 150 euros each arriving last year, many from China via platforms like Shein, Temu, and AliExpress. In 2025, 5.9 billion items entered duty-free, representing 97% of import volume but only 2% of value, highlighting the strain on border controls versus minimal customs revenue. The new duty mainly impacts shipments from major Chinese e-commerce hubs but also applies broadly to non-European platforms, including those based in the US and UK.
Operationally, customs duties are collected by the EU member state where the product is released, often the first entry warehouse, with national authorities retaining 25% of the revenue and the remainder going to the EU budget. The new customs code classifies online marketplaces as "actual importers," making them responsible for product safety compliance and customs payments. With the EU regulation in force, national measures are abolished to avoid double taxation; for instance, Italy postponed a planned two-euro national customs handling fee to prevent overlap with the EU tax.
