The appeal

Mini parcels, Netcomm and trade associations: ‘Suspend the new tax – risk of double taxation of up to €7 per consignment’

On 1 July, the €2 charge on parcels worth less than €150, as provided for in the 2026 Budget Act, will come into effect

by Pietro Menzani

19 June 2026

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

The French experience
Risk of double taxation of up to 7 euros per consignment
The appeal from the associations

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The 2-euro administrative charge on imports of parcels valued at less than 150 euros is expected to be fully operational from 1 July. Netcomm, the leading association for the e-commerce sector in Italia, Federlogistica and Federdistribuzione are strongly calling for the suspension of the measure until the European customs commission comes into force. According to the associations, the risk to be averted is a ‘further loss of competitiveness in the Italian market, to the detriment of businesses and consumers’.

Risk of double taxation of up to 7 euros per consignment

For Netcomm, Federlogistica and Federdistribuzione, the main concern regarding this measure is that it does not provide for theprovision for the abolition of the Italian contribution upon the entry into force of the EU customs reform, which, from 1 July 2026, will introduce a temporary tariff of 3 euros for each item in consignments valued at under 150 euros and, from 1 November 2026, a 2-euro handling fee.

As the signatory organisations point out, the total amount paid would rise to 7 euros if the 2-euro contribution provided for in the 2026 Budget Act is also taken into account. The appeal to the authorities is to take ‘bold and timely’ action, given that the measures are due to come into force very soon.

Roberto Liscia, chairman of Netcomm, whilst acknowledging that he appreciated the Government’s willingness to postpone the full implementation of the subsidy by six months, explains that ‘the political and regulatory issue remains unresolved: from 1 July, the Italian measure will come into force with no guarantee that it will automatically cease once the European regulations come into effect’. According to Liscia, the combined impact of the national and European levies would be “entirely disproportionate to the value of the goods” and would represent “a clear duplication of charges for the same administrative service”.

The French experience

The associations, in fact, believe it is essential to prevent the scenario that has unfolded in France from recurring in Italia, where, following the introduction of a similar measure with effect from 1 March 2026, around 90 per cent of shipments destined for the country now pass through other EU Member States, with revenue falling to 2 million euros per month compared with the 400 million initially estimated on an annual basis.

“The French experience,” explains Liscia, “where the introduction of a similar levy led to a massive reallocation of trade flows towards other European hubs and a slump in expected revenue, should give us pause for thought. The same phenomenon is already underway in Italia, where e-commerce operators are opting for airports and customs clearance points in other Member States, causing serious damage to the cargo sector, the national logistics industry and our country’s competitiveness.”

Carlo Alberto Buttarelli, president of Federdistribuzione, shares this view, arguing that ‘the imposition of an additional charge on every consignment would lead to higher costs, an increased administrative burden and a slowdown in logistics flows. In a context where household purchasing power is already under severe pressure, introducing further charges risks leading to higher consumer prices and a reduction in the competitiveness of the Italian market compared with other European countries’.

The appeal from the associations

Netcomm is therefore calling on the Government to introduce an amendment suspending the €2 levy until the European Customs Management Commission comes into force, with the aim of ‘ensuring consistency between domestic law and EU law, avoiding double taxation and safeguarding the competitiveness of the Italian logistics system’.

Davide Falteri, president of Federlogistica, adds that ‘we must avoid the risk of Italia incurring economic and employment costs that outweigh the expected benefits, with possible repercussions for the freight sector, logistics operators, customs activities and the entire supply chain linked to international trade. For these reasons, we believe a fully coordinated approach at European level is necessary, one capable of ensuring a level playing field across Member States, avoiding duplication of burdens and, at the same time, safeguarding consumers, businesses and the competitiveness of the national economy.”