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- \n <\/span>\n The EU\u2019s duty-free exemption for imports under \u20ac150 ends July 1, 2026<\/strong>.\n <\/li>\n
- \n <\/span>\n Low-value shipments will carry a temporary \u20ac3 flat duty fee<\/strong> per line item through July 2028, then standard duty rates apply.\n <\/li>\n
- \n <\/span>\n An additional handling fee, not yet adopted, is expected to be set in autumn 2026 and widely anticipated at around \u20ac2 per package from November.\n <\/li>\n
- \n <\/span>\n Product identifiers become mandatory November 1, 2026<\/strong>, but can be declared voluntarily from July.\n <\/li>\n
- \n <\/span>\n ecommerce platforms will now be treated as importers, responsible for duties, VAT and product-safety compliance.\n <\/li>\n
- \n <\/span>\n Everful ships Delivered Duty Paid (DDP)<\/strong>, so duties and shipping are calculated at checkout, with no surprises on arrival.\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
July 1 is close, and the European Union\u2019s customs rules are about to change. Products valued under \u20ac150 will be subject to flat-rate import fees on entry into the EU. These reforms land right as holiday sourcing begins, and they create a new challenge for retailers buying internationally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you import or ship products into the EU, the new fees could affect your margins. Below, we break down what the reform changes, how it could affect your business, and how to prepare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is the EU customs duty exemption, and when is it ending?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The EU customs duty exemption let items valued under \u20ac150 enter any of the EU\u2019s 27 member countries without a duty fee. The rule has existed for decades and is often called the \u201cde minimis\u201d rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In March 2026, the European Parliament and European Council passed the EU Customs Reform<\/a>. Under the new legislation, the duty exemption for low-value items ends on July 1, 2026. Any shipment into the EU valued under \u20ac150 will instead be charged a flat duty fee of \u20ac3<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The flat fee is temporary and is expected to stay in effect until July 2028. After that two-year transition, all packages entering the EU will be charged standard duty rates regardless of value. Standard rates vary by product type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why are EU customs duties changing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The change is driven largely by a surge in low-value shipments. 5.8 billion low-value packages entered the EU in 2025<\/a>, a 26% increase on the year before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Global ecommerce platforms have made international shipping easier than ever, but the volume has put real strain on EU customs authorities. The new fees are meant to offset the time and labour needed to process these shipments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reform also establishes a new EU Customs Authority, which will oversee the EU Customs Data Hub \u2014 a system intended to process incoming shipments more cost-efficiently once it is running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many governments are moving the same way. The United States ended its own de minimis rule in August 2025<\/a>, which had allowed duty-free imports valued up to $800. The EU\u2019s new rules align with that global trend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n <\/span>\n Low-value shipments will carry a temporary \u20ac3 flat duty fee<\/strong> per line item through July 2028, then standard duty rates apply.\n <\/li>\n
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