EU member states have approved the introduction of a €3 (US$3.53) customs duty per item on e-commerce parcels valued below €150 (US$175), with the measure set to take effect from July 2026. The European Commission says the decision will “help protect the competitiveness of European businesses by levelling the playing field between e-commerce and traditional retail”.
The move is a response to the rapid growth in e-commerce imports into the EU and is intended as a temporary solution ahead of the launch of the EU Customs Data Hub in 2028, a central element of the broader EU customs reform.
Maroš Šefčovič, commissioner for trade and economic security and interinstitutional relations and transparency, said, “Our work to modernize how we manage trade at our borders is well on track, and we are close to completing the most ambitious customs reform since the creation of the Customs Union in 1968. Our goal is clear: a modern, digital environment that keeps international trade flowing smoothly, while protecting the strength and integrity of our single market. With e-commerce expanding rapidly, the world is changing fast – and we need the right tools to keep pace. That is why the decision on customs duties for small parcels coming into the EU is so important to ensuring fair competition at our borders in today’s e-commerce era.”
The commission and member states acknowledged the need for an interim measure to address rising parcel volumes, while work continues on the legal and IT frameworks needed to implement the new duty. The European Council and Commission are now cooperating to ensure the temporary regime can be applied smoothly from 2026.
Under the agreed approach, the €3 customs duty will apply to parcels sent directly to EU consumers from third countries. The Commission stressed that the measure is separate from ongoing negotiations on a proposed EU handling fee for e-commerce parcels. While the customs duty removes a competitive advantage currently enjoyed by certain online sellers, the handling fee is intended to offset the growing costs faced by customs authorities in supervising high parcel volumes.
Once operational, the EU Customs Data Hub will introduce a permanent customs duty regime for e-commerce. The hub will integrate new customs data related to online trade, giving customs authorities a comprehensive view of goods entering and leaving the EU and strengthening enforcement capabilities across the customs union.
According to the commission, the new rules will reinforce the EU customs union and improve protection for EU retailers, workers and consumers. They form part of a wider effort to adapt customs systems to the realities of cross-border e-commerce and rising small parcel imports.
Currently, parcels valued below €150 sent directly from third countries to EU consumers are exempt from customs duties. The commission proposed removing this exemption in May 2023 as part of its customs reform package. While the initial proposal foresaw implementation from mid-2028, the council adopted the removal of the exemption in November 2025 and called for earlier application in 2026.
In parallel, the commission introduced the concept of an EU handling fee in February 2025 as part of its e-commerce strategy. The handling fee was included in the council’s negotiating mandate for customs reform in June 2025 and is intended to compensate customs authorities for the costs of releasing parcels into free circulation.
Under the council mandate, the handling fee would enter into force in November 2026, although its final scope and timing remain under negotiation between the council and the European Parliament as part of the ongoing trilog discussions.
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