Mini parcels from outside the EU: the first impact of the tariffs – a 39 per cent drop in July and August

Have you identified any cases of non-EU companies relocating their distribution centres within the EU in an attempt to avoid tariffs?

It is important to emphasise that the relocation of logistics flows from one Member State to another would have no effect on taxation, given that this is an EU-wide measure applied by all Member States. The declaration systems are, moreover, the same, whether customs clearance takes place in Rome, Berlin or Paris.

One of the most significant changes linked to the three-euro EU tariffs is, in fact, the restrictions on returns, which are now only permitted for faulty goods. Have you noticed a drop in the number of returns of low-value parcels? 

With regard to so-called ‘returns’, it should be noted that the regulations introduced to implement the new EU measure have ruled out the possibility of invalidating the customs import declaration and, consequently, the right of e-commerce platforms to claim a refund of any tariffs paid. At present, no data is available to ascertain whether or not this has had an impact on the volume of returned goods. In any case, it should be borne in mind that returns are a matter for the policies adopted by operators and are governed by the contractual relationships between e-commerce platforms and buyers.

Is there a shift taking place in the flow of non-EU goods? Are products with a higher unit value being ordered?

As regards the average total value of the goods contained in a single consignment, customs declaration data show that each consignment contains goods with a total value of approximately 29 euros, and there have been no significant fluctuations in this figure during the first eight months of 2026. Although the observation period is short, it does not appear that the tax introduced on 1 July has had any effect on the value of the goods contained in the consignments in question.

What is the trend in detected breaches? Which areas will you be focusing on most towards the end of the year?

In the first half of 2026, the most common offences recorded in seizure reports – often of an administrative or documentary nature – related to counterfeiting (over 4,000) and foreign exchange regulations (over 3,000), followed by excise duties (over 2,000), tobacco (around 2,000) and foodstuffs carried by travellers (over 1,000). In terms of actual seizures: over 700,000 items of counterfeit goods, with an established value exceeding 3 million euros, down on the previous two-year period; almost 3 million items of tobacco, confirming the persistence of smuggling and the effectiveness of controls; over 3.5 tonnes of cocaine. Then there is the whole issue of illegal gambling. In the first eight months of 2026, to give just a partial picture of the phenomenon, nearly a thousand online sites were blocked, compared with 841 in the same period of 2025, representing an increase of 17.2 per cent. There are many and varied fronts on which we will continue to remain vigilant, but we will undoubtedly continue our established measures against smuggling aimed at evading anti-dumping tariffs and against VAT carousel fraud involving fuel. A new priority will, of course, be to tackle evasive practices linked to the flat-rate tariffs of three euros that we have discussed. The aim is to consolidate a modern control model based on prevention, risk analysis and collaboration with economic operators, in order to safeguard tax revenue, ensure fair competition and effectively combat all forms of illegality.

The three-year agreement for 2026–2028 between the Ministry of the Economy and the Agency has set challenging targets. In which area are you innovating the most? 

The Agency is investing heavily in digital and technological innovation, focusing on artificial intelligence, automation and data interoperability, to make administrative processes more efficient and better tailored to citizens’ needs. The ‘Support Systems’ project introduces AI solutions to improve analysis, performance monitoring and the usability of information, applying them to both services and controls. At the same time, the fleet of scanners will be upgraded and advanced detection tools will be introduced, thereby strengthening customs controls. The Agency is also investing in new equipment and analytical capabilities for its chemical laboratories. Finally, there are building refurbishment projects, including photovoltaic systems, which are improving energy efficiency and sustainability. So, in a nutshell, I would say that the Agency’s innovation is following two complementary paths to increase the overall efficiency of its operations: on the one hand, digital transformation; on the other, the modernisation of the technologies and infrastructure that provide practical support for the institutional activities it carries out on a daily basis, thanks to its staff and managers.