Shopping outside the EU: what to check in your cart after customs rule changes

From 1 July 2026, a customs duty of €3 applies to each distinct customs category of goods in a small parcel from outside the EU. When buying an inexpensive cable or charger, compare the final order total rather than just the price on the product page.

A separate handling fee is also planned. It is not the same charge, and the available announcement does not specify how much it will be.

The customs category matters, not the number of items

The €3 duty applies to parcels valued below €150 that are sent directly from outside the EU to consumers in the EU. A customs category is the classification assigned to a product under the customs tariff. The duty is therefore not automatically charged per item, but it is not necessarily charged just once per parcel either.

For example, if three items are classified in the same customs category, the duty for that category is €3. If a parcel contains goods in two different categories, the duty is €6. What matters is the products’ customs classification, not just how the shop describes them.

Combining purchases in one parcel therefore does not guarantee a saving. The temporary arrangement is scheduled to run until 1 July 2028, with the possibility of an extension.

The handling fee is a separate charge

In an announcement on 3 September, the Council of the EU said a separate handling fee would be introduced by 1 November 2026 at the latest. The fee is intended to help cover the cost of checking small parcels, and the European Commission is to set its amount before it takes effect.

The announcement also envisaged the European Parliament approving the final text later in September, followed by its publication. The announcement alone therefore does not establish a specific additional charge for an order. The planned handling fee should not be confused with the €3 customs duty.

Check three things before paying

• What is in the parcel: Check whether you are ordering several units of the same product or a mix of products that could fall into different customs categories. The number of items in your cart alone does not determine the duty.
• The final price: Check the cost of the goods and delivery, and whether the displayed total includes VAT and any applicable duty. Also review the terms for any possible customs clearance fees.
• The seller’s or platform’s terms: Check which payments it handles when you order and whether the carrier could ask you to pay anything else on delivery.

The reform also envisages affected non-EU platforms taking responsibility, as importers, for customs formalities and payments. That does not in itself promise a lower final price. Base your decision on the specific terms of your order.