From 1 July 2026, the European Union is introducing new customs rules for imported goods. As part of these changes, a €3 customs handling fee may apply to imported objects valued below €150.

These changes are introduced by the European Union and apply to imports into EU member states.

What this means for sellers

If you ship low-value objects from outside the EU to buyers in the EU, the new customs requirements may affect how your shipments are processed.

Depending on your shipping provider, import duties, taxes and customs handling fees may need to be collected during the import process. Some carriers may also require shipments to be sent using Delivered Duty Paid (DDP).

We recommend checking with your shipping provider to understand whether these changes affect your shipping services, pricing or customs processes.

What this means for buyers

If you buy an object that is shipped from outside the EU to an EU address, import fees may apply.

Depending on the shipping method used by the seller and whether import duties have been paid in advance, you may need to pay these charges before your object can be delivered. If the charges have not been paid in advance, the carrier may contact you before delivery to arrange payment.

During the initial implementation of the new rules, deliveries may take slightly longer than usual while carriers and customs authorities adapt to the new customs procedures.

About the new legislation

The new customs rules are part of the European Union's Customs Reform Package and apply from 1 July 2026.

As the implementation of the new legislation continues, the European Commission may publish further guidance. We will update this article when relevant information becomes available.

For more information, see the European Commission’s guidance page.