EU to introduce €3 customs duty on low-value e-commerce parcels from 2026

The European Commission has welcomed an agreement by EU member states to introduce a €3 customs duty on e-commerce parcels valued below €150, a measure set to take effect in July 2026.

The Commission said the duty is intended to protect the competitiveness of European businesses by creating a more level playing field between online imports and traditional retail. Officials noted that the surge in low-value parcels entering the EU has made a temporary solution necessary until broader reforms are in place, Caliber.Az reports via the Commission. 

The measure is designed to bridge the period until the launch of the EU Customs Data Hub in 2028, a central component of the bloc’s ongoing customs reform. Once operational, the hub will integrate customs data for all e-commerce shipments, giving authorities comprehensive oversight of goods entering or leaving the EU.

According to the Commission, work is already under way with the Council to implement the temporary duty through legal changes and the development of the required IT systems.

The €3 charge will apply to parcels sent directly to consumers from non-EU countries. The Commission stressed that the measure is distinct from a separate proposal under negotiation for an EU-wide handling fee on e-commerce parcels.

While the customs duty aims to remove what officials describe as an unfair advantage enjoyed by foreign online retailers, the handling fee would compensate customs authorities for the rising costs of processing the growing volume of small parcels.

By Sabina Mammadli