New EU import fees are coming in 2026: what e-commerce shippers need to know

Low-value parcels entering the EU are about to lose their special treatment.

Starting in 2026, the EU and several Member States will introduce new customs duties and handling fees on small parcels being imported into the EU. Some changes are fully confirmed, while others are still being finalized or implemented at the national level.

Here’s what we know so far, what’s still evolving, and what shippers should be preparing for.

The big picture: the €150 exemption is going away

For years, parcels valued at €150 or less could enter the EU without customs duties (though VAT still applied). EU policymakers have now agreed to end that exemption as part of broader customs reform.

According to the Council of the European Union, a permanent solution has been agreed to eliminate the customs duty relief threshold altogether, meaning low-value goods will eventually be subject to normal EU customs tariffs just like higher-value imports.

Because the permanent reform will take time to implement, the EU is introducing temporary measures first.

Confirmed EU change: a €3 customs duty starting on July 1, 2026

What’s confirmed

Starting on July 1, 2026, the EU will apply a fixed €3 customs duty on small parcels:

• Applies to each different item valued under €150, according to their tariff headings, contained in a consignment
• Applies primarily to e-commerce shipments
• Applies to goods sold by non-EU sellers registered in the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS)

How the €3 duty is applied

The €3 duty is not charged per parcel.

Instead, it is applied per tariff heading (customs classification) within a shipment.

What this means in practice:

• Multiple units of the same product classification are charged once
• Parcels containing different product classifications may incur multiple €3 charges
  (for example, three different product categories = three €3 charges)

This is temporary—a permanent system is coming

The €3 duty is explicitly described as a temporary solution. It will remain in place until the EU’s permanent customs reform enters into force, at which point:

“All goods under €150 will be eligible for customs duty at the normal EU tariffs for individual products.”

Potential EU change: €2 handling fee

The EU has also been discussing a separate handling fee for low-value parcels. This is not the same fee as the €3 customs duty.

From the Council:

“The measure is distinct from the proposed so-called ‘handling fee’ which is currently under discussion in the context of the customs reform package and the multiannual financial framework.”

Industry reporting suggests a potential €2 EU-wide handling fee could be introduced later in 2026, but no final EU decision has been adopted yet.

Member States are introducing their own national fees

While EU-level reforms are phased in, several Member States are introducing national fees, creating a more fragmented landscape for cross-border shippers.

Romania: €5 fee starting on January 1, 2026

Romania has already adopted a national charge on low-value non-EU parcels.

• Fee: 25 lei per package (approximately €5)
• Applies to: Distance sales consignments valued under €150
• Effective date: January 1, 2026
• Adopted by: Romanian Parliament on November 18, 2025

Romanian postal and courier operators will collect and remit the fee, acting as intermediaries between sellers, marketplaces, and tax authorities.

Italy: €2 handling fee, details still emerging

Italy has enacted a €2 handling fee as part of its 2026 budget, but detailed technical guidance has not yet been published.

Industry reporting indicates:

• The fee applies per package
• Implementation details are still being clarified, creating uncertainty for carriers and sellers

Netherlands: €2 fee per declaration line (planned)

The Netherlands has signaled plans to introduce a national handling fee:

• Amount: ~€2
• Structure: Per customs declaration line (not per parcel)
• Practical impact: Multiple product categories in one order may trigger multiple fees
• Target timing: February 1, 2026 (industry-reported)

France and Belgium: proposals, but no confirmed rollout

• France has discussed a €2 national fee as part of the 2026 budget cycle, but adoption has been delayed
• Belgium explored a similar approach but has opted, for now, to rely on the EU-level €3 customs duty instead

Why these changes matter

Individually, a €2 or €3 charge may not sound significant. But on low-value items, these fees:

• Represent a meaningful percentage increase in landed cost
• Stack on top of VAT and other charges
• Add classification and compliance complexity, especially for multi-item orders

Together, these measures signal a clear shift: low-value imports are no longer being treated as an exception.

What shippers should do now

• Review product classifications and how many tariff headings appear in a typical shipment
• Monitor destination-specific rules, especially where national fees apply
• Prepare for more fees to be charged at or before checkout, rather than at delivery
• Stay alert as the EU finalizes its permanent customs reform, expected to fully roll out by 2028