New rate already this week: If you shop online in these stores, get ready

In February, remember, the EU gave final approval to new tariff rules for small orders in the Community area, eliminating the current exemption for goods below EUR 150 and creating a provisional fee of EUR three. It will apply from Wednesday.

29/06/2026
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What is this about?

In February, remember, the EU gave final approval to new customs duty rules for small orders in the Community area, eliminating the current exemption for goods below eur 150 and creating a provisional rate of three euros.

With this decision, there is no longer an exemption based on the EUR 150 threshold for small orders, so all goods entering the EU will be subject to tariffs when the new European customs data centre is operational, provided for in a broader reform of the customs system and currently estimated for 2028.

Meanwhile, there is a (provisional) fee that will be applied as of July

Until the system was put into operation, the Member States agreed to apply a provisional fixed fee of three euro for each item category included in orders of less than 150 euro sent directly to consumers in the EU.

It means that, from 1 july 2026, the rate shall be calculated by separate product category identified according to the tariff subheadings. Accounts made, for example, an order with a silk blouse and two of wool are considered to contain two different categories and involve payment of six euros of customs duties.

Do you shop online? Ends order exemption up to 150€ (and there is new fee)

The European Union has today given the final ‘green light’ to new customs duty rules for small orders in the Community area, eliminating the current exemption for goods below EUR 150 and creating a provisional fee of EUR three.

Lusa 16:56 – 11/02/2026

What is the basis of this decision?

According to the EU Council, the new scheme will have a positive impact on the EU budget and national public finances, as customs duties constitute a traditional own resource, being part of the revenue retained by Member States as recovery costs.

The measure is different from the so-called handling rate, which is still under discussion in the overall customs reform package.

According to data from the European Commission, the number of small orders arriving in the EU has doubled annually since 2022 and only in 2024 have 4,6 billion such consignments entered the European market, 91% of them from China.

The European Union is currently negotiating, between the Council and the European Parliament, the structural reform of the customs system, including the establishment of a European data centre supervised by a new Community customs authority.

Do you shop online? There is a new fee you should know (starts in July)

Last week, the EU gave final approval to new tariff rules for small orders in the EU area, eliminating the current exemption for goods below EUR 150 and creating a provisional fee of EUR three. We'll explain how it works.

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