- Most e-commerce goods shipped directly from third countries to the EU do not comply with EU product rules and safety standards; over half of checked toys and electronics failed standards, and 84% of tested items were found dangerous.
- The volume of small parcels entering the EU has doubled annually since 2022, reaching 4.6 billion in 2024, with 97% of shipments in 2025 being small consignments.
- Customs authorities are increasingly unable to adequately control the surge in e-commerce imports using traditional methods.
- The EU is ending the customs duty exemption for parcels under €150 and will introduce a €3 duty per item from July 2026.
- The EU’s Customs Reform will make online platforms and sellers responsible for ensuring compliance with customs obligations, shifting responsibility away from consumers and carriers.
Source: taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu
Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.
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