-
The European Union’s abolition of its de minimis – a tax-free policy for imported goods valued at less than €150 – took effect July 1, meaning sellers or shippers now have to pay a €3 customs duty per item
-
EU consumers are not responsible for payment of the customs tax at delivery
-
The new measure also now requires product identifiers to minimize the entry of goods that do not meet EU quality and safety standards
-
PIDs will still be voluntary until October 2026, and become mandatory by November
-
Removal of the EU de minimis was brought on by the growth of e-commerce
-
In 2025, some 5.9 billion items in low-value packages from third countries entered the EU market, representing 97% of all imported items in the region but accounting for only 2% of the total import value
The European Union’s (EU) abolition of its de minimis – a tax-free policy for imported goods valued at less than €150 – took effect July 1, meaning sellers or shippers of packages to the bloc’s members nations will now have to pay a €3 customs duty per item.
Consumers from the EU are not responsible for paying the duties to the customs authorities, the European Commission (EC) said in a statement.
“Duties are collected by the customs authorities from the platforms, or any other business involved in the sale and transportation of the imported goods. Consumers buying online are therefore spared from additional payment at delivery,” it said.
READ: FedEx beefs up support for APAC businesses as EU ends de minimis
The EU’s decision to remove what it called an “outdated customs duty exemption” comes with the growth of e-commerce.
“The €150 customs duty exemption was designed for an era of occasional online purchases and less digitalised customs systems. This no longer fits reality, and its removal corrects a long-standing structural imbalance for EU enterprises,” EC said.
It noted how the boom in online shopping have left EU town high streets deserted, affecting local employment and community life. It also underscored the environmental impact of “the fast-paced e-commerce model” that contributes to waste and carbon-heavy logistics.
“Open market, equal rules. The EU e-commerce market stays open – but it cannot come at the expense of European consumers and businesses,” said Maroš Šefčovič, commissioner for Trade and Economic Security; Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency.
READ: PH-EU free trade talks advance on multiple fronts in 5th round
Data from EC show that in 2025 alone, 5.9 billion items in low-value packages from third countries entered the EU market without paying customs duties. This represents 97% of all imported items in the region, but accounting for only 2% of the EU’s import value. On a daily basis, more than 16 million packages are cleared by customs to consumers in the EU.
“Goods entering the Union should meet the same standards of compliance and traceability as goods sold in our Single Market. Platforms and sellers profiting from European consumers must play by the same rules as European businesses. Scrapping the de minimis exemption simply brings our customs system up to speed with how trade works today – resulting in fairer competition, stronger enforcement, better consumer protection,” Šefčovič said.
The €3 rate would be a “transitional solution” for two years. From July 2028, the EU Customs Data Hub will become operational, applying normal customs duties based on the good’s tariff classification, origin, and value, in accordance with existing/standard EU customs duty rules.
Quality standards
The EC further pointed out that the rapid growth of e-commerce also means increased risks for consumers. It cited a 2025 EU-wide investigation which found that over 60% of low-value goods entering the EU do not comply with product requirements or safety standards.
As such, the new measure also now requires product identifiers (PIDs) to improve risk management.
“The inclusion of PIDs improves risk management and control procedures, helping to enforce prohibitions and restrictions. This will support authorities to more effectively detect non-compliant goods and expand controls beyond individual shipments, to cover all items presenting similar risks,” EC said.
The PIDs will still be voluntary until October 2026, and become mandatory by November.
