site.btaEU Abolishes EUR 150 Duty-Free Exemption for Low-Value Imports

As of July 1, 2026, the EU begins to apply a temporary EUR 3 customs duty per item on low-value consignments (up to EUR 150) imported from outside the EU, abolishing the duty exemption applicable until June 30 2026. The EUR 3 temporary customs duty is a flat fee, which will apply until July 1 2028, after which normal customs duties will apply, depending on the type of good.

The measure is part of the EU’s Customs Reform, a broader effort to modernize customs procedures, ensuring fairness, safety, and sustainability in e-commerce. The effort follows evidence that a significant share of low-value e-commerce imports fail to meet EU safety and compliance standards, posing risks to consumers and undermining fair competition.

The European Commission said that targeted inspections carried out across the EU 27 throughout 2025 in cosmetics, personal protective equipment (PPE), food supplements, toys, and electronics revealed alarming non-compliance: over 60% of checked products failed EU standards due to missing labels, forbidden ingredients, or absent safety documentation. The EUR 3 duty levels the playing field, ensuring that all businesses bringing goods to the EU market, whether it is buying in bulk or individually, are subject to customs duties and comply with the rules.