EU green light for tariffs on small parcels, as early as July EUR 3

The EU Council gave the final green light to new customs rules on small parcels entering the European market, mostly via e-commerce. They aim to eliminate the current exemption on consignments with a value of less than EUR 150. Once the new European customs 'data hub' expected by 2028 is operational, they will apply to all goods entering the EU. Provisionally already from 1 July this year, a flat rate tariffs of EUR 3 will be applied for each product category contained in parcels below EUR 150 sent directly to consumers.

"With the global growth of e-commerce, EU customs rules must keep pace. Abolishing the outdated exemption for small parcels will help support European businesses and close the door to unscrupulous operators," says Cyprus' Finance Minister Makis Keravnos, on behalf of the rotating presidency of the EU Council, in the note announcing the final go-ahead for new rules on small parcels entering the EU. According to the European Commission, the Council recalls, the volume of small parcels entering the European market has doubled every year since 2022: in 2024 there were 4.6 billion, and 91% of the shipments came from China. The system, it is emphasised, will also have effects on public accounts: tariffs are a traditional EU own resource and a share of the revenue remains with the member states to cover collection costs, with a positive impact on both the European and national budgets. The agreement is distinct from the so-called 'handling fee' still under discussion as part of the broader customs reform, on which negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament are continuing and which envisages, among other things, the creation of a new EU customs authority to oversee the future system and the common database.