Economy 4 min read By Arthur Ellington
European Parliament approves EU customs reform with per-item processing fee on online orders from outside the bloc
The European Parliament has approved a major reform of the EU Customs Code, introducing stricter e-commerce rules, a new processing fee for each item bought from online stores outside the Union, and a new customs authority. The fee is expected to apply by November 2026, with its exact value to be set by the European Commission and reviewed every two years.
The European Parliament has approved a major reform of the European Union's customs code, introducing stricter rules for e-commerce and creating a new customs authority, in a move that will reshape how goods ordered from outside the bloc are processed at the border.
The legislation, adopted in Strasbourg, establishes a processing fee for each individual item purchased from online stores based outside the Union. The exact value of the fee will be determined by the European Commission and reviewed every two years, according to the approved framework. The measure is expected to take effect no later than 1 November 2026.
The reform is designed to address the rapid growth of cross-border online shopping, which has placed increasing pressure on customs systems across member states. Under the current arrangements, low-value parcels entering the EU have often escaped close scrutiny, creating what officials describe as an uneven playing field for European retailers and a gap in consumer and product safety enforcement.
The new customs authority is intended to centralise and strengthen oversight of goods entering the single market. It will coordinate with national customs bodies and take on a role in risk management, data sharing and enforcement, particularly as the volume of small consignments continues to rise.
The processing fee will apply per item rather than per shipment, a detail that could significantly increase costs for consumers who order multiple low-value products from non-EU platforms in a single transaction. The Commission will be responsible for setting the initial amount and for periodic reviews, leaving open the possibility that the charge could be adjusted as trade patterns and administrative costs evolve.
The reform reflects broader concerns within the EU about the competitive advantage enjoyed by overseas online marketplaces, many of which ship directly to consumers without the same customs and tax obligations faced by domestic sellers. European businesses have long argued that the current threshold for customs duties on low-value imports disadvantages them, while consumer groups have raised questions about the safety and compliance of some imported goods.
The European Parliament's approval marks a key stage in the legislative process. The reform now moves forward with the Commission tasked with implementing the detailed arrangements, including the precise fee structure and the operational framework for the new customs authority. Member states will need to adapt their national systems to align with the updated code.
The timeline gives businesses and platforms roughly two years to prepare for the changes. E-commerce operators outside the EU, as well as logistics and postal services, will need to adjust their processes to account for the per-item fee and the stricter data and safety requirements expected under the new regime.
For consumers in the UK and across Europe, the practical effect will depend on how the Commission sets the fee and how platforms choose to pass it on. The reform is part of a wider EU effort to modernise customs for the digital age, balancing the growth of online trade with the need to protect the single market, ensure fair competition and maintain effective controls on imported goods.
