Europe · Business news · Policy & Regulation · 03 Sept 2026
EU Consumer Discretionary Industrials
EU governments gave final approval to what the Council called the most comprehensive reform of the bloc's customs rules in decades. Non-EU e-commerce platforms selling into the EU become the importer, responsible for customs formalities and duties, and face fines of up to 6% of annual import value for non-compliance. An EU-wide handling fee on small parcels is to be introduced by November 1, 2026, separate from the Council's earlier decision to remove the €150 customs duty exemption for low-value imports. An EU Customs Authority based in Lille starts work in 2027, and a central EU Customs Data Hub becomes mandatory for e-commerce from July 1, 2028.
Duties and handling fees on parcels that used to enter tax-free raise the landed cost of goods shipped directly from overseas marketplaces such as Shein and Temu, narrowing their price gap with EU-based retailers and platforms including Zalando, Inditex, H&M and Allegro. Parcel carriers and logistics groups such as DHL Group and InPost face new data and fee-collection requirements, and member states collect duty on imports that were previously exempt.
Reported by Council of the EU — “EU customs: Council greenlights landmark reform” ↗ on 03 Sept 2026.
Official series on 03 Sept 2026 or the last day before it, and the latest observation.
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