New EU Parcel Rules: What's Changing in July

From 1 July 2026, the EU is changing the way it treats low-value parcels arriving from outside the bloc. If you ship into Europe, here's what you need to know.

The headline change is the end of a long-standing exemption. Until now, goods sent into the EU in consignments worth €150 or less have been free from customs duty. From July, that exemption disappears and a flat €3 customs duty takes its place.

A few practical points:

• It's charged per item, not per parcel. The duty applies per item based on tariff classification, so a parcel containing several different products attracts a separate €3 charge for each one. A box with three distinct items means €9, not €3.
  

• It mainly targets e-commerce. The rule applies to goods sold by non-EU sellers registered under the EU's Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) for VAT, which covers around 93% of all e-commerce flowing into the EU.
  

• The UK is in scope. As a non-EU country, UK businesses shipping into Europe will be affected.
  

• It's temporary. The €3 flat fee runs until 1 July 2028, when the EU Customs Data Hub goes live and normal, product-specific customs duties take over.
  

The aim is to level the playing field for EU businesses and tackle concerns about unfair competition and unsafe low-value imports. If you move goods into the EU, it's worth reviewing your pricing and customs processes now.