Overview
- The EU will add a €2 'Union Handling Fee' charged per ordered item for goods shipped from outside the bloc, with the measure entering force on 1 November 2026.
- This per‑item fee stacks on a temporary €3 customs flat fee that has applied since 1 July 2026 for consignments up to €150, so low‑priced products can face several euros of extra cost before VAT or duties.
- Customs authorities say platforms, sellers or carriers will normally administer the fee but they may pass the charge on to buyers through higher prices or shipping fees.
- The per‑item and per‑category structure changes incentives for merchants and logistics firms, encouraging batch imports, EU warehousing or route shifts that have already been observed after the July rule change.
- The measures are described as interim steps ahead of a planned digital e‑commerce customs system due by 1 July 2028, which the EU intends to use to replace the transitional fees.