Brussels – The EU Council has approved a proposal to implement a fixed customs duty of three euros on all small parcels valued under 150 euros arriving from non-EU countries, starting from 1 July 2026.
This initiative primarily targets shipments of products ordered by EU residents via e-commerce platforms like “Temu”, “Shein”, and “Alibaba”. Data indicates that these shipments make up 93 percent of all small parcels entering the EU from abroad each year.
The temporary measure, which will remain in effect until a comprehensive customs reform package is adopted, aims to address the unfair competition posed by e-commerce platforms to EU traders, while also enhancing protections for consumer health and safety, environmental standards, and fraud prevention in online product sales.
The European Commission has endorsed the proposal, highlighting that it will safeguard the competitiveness of European businesses and level the playing field between e-commerce and traditional retail.
Additionally, the Commission states that this decision will serve as a stopgap until the EU Customs Data Hub is established, which is scheduled for mid-2028 as part of the customs reform initiative.
The three-euro temporary customs charge will be applied to parcels sent directly from third countries to EU consumers, according to the EC.
The statement further clarifies that this measure differs from the upcoming “handling fee for e-commerce shipments,” currently under negotiation. This fee aims to offset the higher costs incurred by customs authorities due to the increasing volume of e-commerce shipments. While the handling fee is projected to be implemented in November 2026, its specific amount and effective date will be determined once the EU Council and the European Parliament reach an agreement on the matter.
In Belgium, the government has individually decided to impose a fee of two euros for shipments from e-commerce websites. Belgian media report that with the introduction of the EU’s fixed customs duty of three euros, the local fee will remain, resulting in a total cost of five euros for each shipment received from abroad. (12 December 2025)
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