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Another Cost for Low-Value Imports
The European Commission has yet to announce the amount of the new handling fee. What is already clear is that it will be charged per item, rather than once per parcel, to help cover the cost of customs checks on the growing number of small e-commerce shipments.
The fee is separate from the temporary €3 customs duty introduced in July 2026 on imports worth up to €150. This duty applies to each category of goods in a parcel. An order containing three different product categories could therefore attract €9 in customs duties alone.
Source: consilium.europa.eu
The temporary duty is expected to be replaced by standard customs tariffs in July 2028, although it could remain in place longer if the new customs system is delayed.
For businesses shipping inexpensive goods from outside the EU, the November fee adds another expense to factor into their prices and delivery charges.
Who Will Be Responsible for Customs?
The reform changes who deals with customs when Europeans order from outside the EU. Instead of leaving the paperwork and duty payments to customers, the rules place these responsibilities on the businesses selling to them.
Depending on how a sale is arranged, an online marketplace or seller may be treated as the importer. The designated business will have to provide customs information, pay the applicable duties and ensure the goods comply with EU requirements.
Repeated failures could prove costly. The most serious breaches may result in fines of up to 6% of the previous year’s import value, alongside the loss of customs privileges or restrictions on access to online platforms.
One Customs Portal Instead of 27 National Systems
The EU also plans to replace separate national customs procedures with a shared digital platform. The EU Customs Data Hub will become mandatory for e-commerce businesses on 1 July 2028, with other traders following in March 2034.
A new customs authority in Lille, France, will begin operations in 2027. It will use the shared data to help national authorities identify high-risk shipments and coordinate inspections.
Less Paperwork for Reliable Traders
Not every business will face more complicated procedures. The reform introduces a Trust and Check Trader status for companies that meet strict transparency and compliance requirements.
Qualifying businesses will have access to simpler customs procedures. Some will eventually be able to release their goods into the EU without active customs intervention.
For online retailers importing from outside the EU, the first change to prepare for is the November handling fee, followed by the new customs reporting requirements in 2028.
