From November 1, 2026, an additional fee for processing small commercial shipments from outside the Union will be introduced in the EU. This will supplement new rules for parcels that started to be implemented in July. This was reported by the EU Council.
Fee for processing parcels: what will be introduced from November 1, 2026
According to the current clarification from the EU Council, the fee will be 2 euros per item. This is a separate payment to cover the costs of customs authorities for inspecting small shipments purchased remotely.
In the inPoland material, a range of 2 to 4 euros is mentioned. However, the official page of the EU Council specifically states 2 euros, so these amounts should not be presented as equally valid.
The new requirements apply, in particular, to orders from platforms like Temu, Shein, and AliExpress that are delivered to buyers in the EU. This is not only a rule for Chinese goods: the import from outside the EU matters.
The fee for processing should be distinguished from the temporary duty that has been in effect since July 1:
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duty: 3 euros per category of goods in relevant shipments worth up to 150 euros;
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processing fee: an additional payment related to customs control costs.
The imposition of the duty has already affected the import of small parcels. Additionally, the inPoland data regarding a nearly 20% decrease in the number of shipments over two weeks should not be perceived as confirmed statistics for the entire EU without clarification on the source and coverage.
Duty on online purchases: what will change in 2028
The temporary rate of 3 euros is a transitional mechanism. After the launch of the EU customs data center for e-commerce, goods will be taxed at regular rates according to their type.
Therefore, it is incorrect to state that the exemption for purchases up to 150 euros will only disappear in 2028. For online orders covered by the new rules, it has already been replaced by temporary duty since July 2026.
The reform also imposes the responsibility for customs formalities and payment of fees on the involved platforms, sellers, or other operators. This does not exclude the impact of additional costs on the final purchase price.
The changes in the EU relate to the import of goods into its territory. Ukrainian proposals regarding the taxation of international parcels are a separate legislative procedure and do not automatically come into force along with the European norms.