Key facts
- A €3 customs duty on e-commerce imports valued under €150 has taken effect in the EU.
- The 'de minimis' loophole, exempting shipments under €150 from duties, has been closed.
- The new measure aims to create a fairer competitive environment for European retailers and ensure product safety.
- Digital marketplaces are now legally considered 'deemed importers' and are liable for product safety regulations.
- Consumers may experience increased prices and longer delivery times for goods from non-EU sellers.
The European Union has implemented a new €3 customs duty on low-value e-commerce imports, effectively ending a long-standing loophole that allowed goods under €150 to enter the bloc duty-free. This measure, which came into effect on July 1, targets online platforms such as SHEIN, Temu, and AliExpress, aiming to address concerns over unfair competition for European retailers, product safety, fraud, and the environmental impact of high-volume imports.
For years, companies utilized the 'de minimis' loophole to ship directly from China, avoiding up to 12% in import duties and undercutting European businesses that face significantly higher structural costs. The unprecedented volume of these low-value parcels has overwhelmed customs infrastructure, with estimates suggesting only a tiny fraction are inspected, leading to the widespread entry of non-compliant and potentially unsafe products. Investigations have found high levels of hazardous substances in fast fashion items and safety risks in toys.
Under new reforms, digital marketplaces are now legally classified as 'deemed importers,' making them directly liable for EU product safety laws. This shift places responsibility for safety certifications and chemical testing on the platforms, with potential penalties including financial sanctions or market bans for non-compliance. While consumers will likely face higher prices and potentially longer delivery times, the changes are intended to ensure products entering the EU meet the same safety and environmental standards as domestically produced goods.
The new duty is a temporary measure until a permanent system for low-value imports is established in November 2025, with a comprehensive EU Customs Data Hub set to go live in 2028, removing the €150 threshold entirely.