The Council of the EU has agreed to impose a customs duty of EUR 3 per parcel on online trade shipments with a value of less than EUR 150. The measure is to apply from July 2026 and affects goods delivered directly from third countries to the EU. The aim is to create a level playing field between online trade and brick-and-mortar retail.

End of previous duty exemption below EUR 150

Until now, parcels worth less than EUR 150 were exempt from customs duties if they were delivered directly from a third country to consumers in the EU. The Commission had already proposed in May 2023 to abolish this exemption as part of the customs reform. On 13 November 2025, the Council decided to introduce the new customs duty for small consignments as early as 2026.

Response to sharp rise in low-value imports

The decision was triggered by the rapid increase in e-commerce imports. Against the backdrop of the planned EU customs reform, the Commission and Member States have recognised that a transitional solution is necessary until the EU customs data platform is introduced in 2028. The customs duty now agreed is therefore a temporary measure that will take effect before the comprehensive reform is completed.

Distinction from the planned EU processing fee

The customs duty of EUR 3 per shipment is independent of the ongoing negotiations on an additional EU processing fee for parcels in online commerce. While the customs duty is primarily intended to eliminate an existing competitive advantage for foreign online retailers, the processing fee serves to offset the rising costs incurred by customs authorities in monitoring large volumes of parcels.

The idea of such a processing fee was presented by the European Commission in February 2025 and later included in the Council’s negotiating mandate on customs reform. According to current plans, it is to come into force in November 2026, although its content and timing are still the subject of ongoing trilogue negotiations.

Source: European Commission