Overview
- The European Union started collecting a €3 charge on Wednesday for each product category in parcels valued under €150, making multiple different items in one package liable for several fees.
- The levy is temporary and will remain in force until 1 July 2028, when the bloc plans to replace it with a goods‑specific customs regime that applies conventional tariffs by product type.
- Brussels introduced the measure to tackle a surge of low‑value online shipments that now total roughly 16 million parcels a day and to counter platforms linked to under‑declared or unsafe goods, after fining Temu €200 million on 28 May for safety failings.
- Retail groups say the €3 charge is too small to stop unfair competition, while consumer organisations warn carriers or sellers might pass the cost to buyers despite EU rules that place import duty responsibility on importers.
- Officials will watch for evasion tactics such as routing through third countries or using EU warehouses, and national customs authorities must implement the new charge and scale up inspections ahead of the 2028 reform.