When the value of a small package bought online and transported from outside the EU is less than €150, the EU will add a €3 fee. The member states all agreed on the measure, which is meant to deal with the rapid rise in these kinds of imports and improve customs control.
The action will have the biggest effect on packages from third nations that are linked to low-cost e-commerce. A lot of these packages come from Asia. In practice, the goal is twofold: to make inspections more effective and to keep products that don’t meet European standards from entering the EU. The goal is also to level the playing field for enterprises that make or sell goods in the EU.
It starts on July 1st, 2026
The agreed-upon schedule says that the tax will start on July 1st, 2026. Starting on that date, packages worth less than 150 euros that were previously exempt in some situations will have to pay the shipping fee that has been set.
Why is it being used now, and why is it only for a short time?
Brussels had been looking for a quick way to deal with the rise in lightweight packages for months. This has put customs services under a lot of stress because they have to check the contents of millions of small shipments.
The extra €3 charge is meant to be a short-term fix. The rationale is that the new European customs management model needs to be put into place first, and a unified data centre is planned for 2028. The EU wants to have an instant instrument to increase monitoring and make controls fit the real pace of international e-commerce until that system is completely up and running.
The dispute is centred on the 150 euro limit
The €150 limit is important since it has been the standard for customs exemptions and simplifications for decades. But the rise of online shopping has drastically transformed the scene. Now, many little, low-value goods are being sent to households all throughout Europe in separate packages.
The EU is trying to solve an issue that is no longer little with the new surcharge. The amount of goods coming in has skyrocketed, and so has the risk of goods coming in that don’t fulfil safety, labelling, or technological standards. This has a negative effect on European trade and industry as well.
What could change for the customer
The greatest direct effect on the buyer is that the final cost of some orders could go up if the fee is added to the price in whole or in part. The effect will be different for each platform, depending on its model, the way it handles logistics, and how it handles payments during the import process.
European institutions, on the other hand, say that stronger controls are needed to make products easier to trace and safer, as well as to stop unfair competition that comes from huge shipments that are hard to inspect as thoroughly as other trade flows because of their size.
Next steps
After the political agreement, the EU will need to finish the technical and regulatory work so that the surcharge may start on time. The measure will be in effect until the final system for the European customs overhaul is up and running.
Author: Derek Appleton
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