Overview
- EU finance ministers approved the temporary measure to curb a flood of small parcels that have tripled since 2022 to about 4.6 billion in 2024.
- About 91% of such consignments originate from China via platforms including Temu and Shein, with authorities citing undervaluation and product safety risks.
- The fee applies to goods under €150 and targets non‑EU sellers registered in the EU’s Import One‑Stop Shop, which covers roughly 93% of e‑commerce shipments.
- Member states opted for a uniform €3 charge per parcel rather than a proportional levy based on item value.
- The measure will be replaced by the EU’s permanent customs regime linked to a new data hub in 2028, while a separate €2 handling‑fee proposal remains undecided.