The Council of the European Union has permitted new customs guidelines for imported parcels valued at as much as 150 euros. These shipments have been beforehand exempt from customs duties, however that may change on July 1. From that date, a flat price of three euros will apply to every merchandise class contained in a small parcel getting into the EU.
The inflow of parcels – notably from China – has grow to be a rising concern for member states. Final yr, 5.8 billion low-cost ecommerce parcels entered the EU. That represents a rise of 26 % in comparison with 2024 and greater than 4 occasions the quantity recorded in 2022.
Customs authorities struggling
Customs authorities within the member states are struggling to examine the contents of the billions of parcels getting into the Union every year. In apply, this has confirmed unmanageable, permitting unsafe merchandise to enter the market. This isn’t solely dangerous to EU shoppers, but in addition to the aggressive place of European corporations.
Most items don’t adjust to EU guidelines and requirements
A current large-scale customs management operation revealed that almost all items shipped on to EU shoppers from third nations don’t adjust to EU product guidelines and security requirements. “Nevertheless, the enlargement of ecommerce-driven imports outpaces the speed at which management measures could be carried out”, the European Fee wrote following the publication of the findings.
EU Customs Knowledge Hub
Many of the parcels originate from China, pushed by platforms reminiscent of AliExpress, Shein and Temu. After years of fast development, their enlargement has just lately begun to sluggish. Development could decelerate additional following the abolition of the threshold-based customs responsibility aid for parcels valued beneath 150 euros getting into the EU. Customs tariffs will apply to all items getting into the Union as soon as the EU Customs Knowledge Hub turns into operational, which is presently anticipated in 2028.
Interim flat-rate customs responsibility
Till then, member states have agreed to introduce an interim flat-rate customs responsibility of three euros on objects contained in small parcels valued at lower than 150 euros and despatched on to shoppers within the EU. The responsibility might be levied on every completely different class of merchandise.
For instance, if a parcel accommodates two distinct merchandise classes, 6 euros in customs responsibility can be payable. The measure is separate from the proposed so-called ‘dealing with payment’ that’s presently beneath dialogue as a part of the broader customs reform bundle.
