Overview
- The EU began charging the €3 levy on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, for parcels valued under €150 with the charge applied per product category so mixed shipments can incur multiple €3 fees.
- Brussels says the emergency measure targets huge flows of cheap online parcels that enable undervaluation fraud and bring products that often fail EU safety checks into the single market.
- The Commission has already fined platforms — including a €200 million penalty for Temu — and says platforms or importers should pay the levy while it monitors for illegal pass‑throughs to consumers.
- Officials warn of avoidance tactics such as using EU warehouses, routing via partner countries, product splitting or misclassification and have signalled possible extra charges this autumn to cover inspection and processing costs.
- The levy is temporary and will run until July 1, 2028, when a full customs reform is due; the change follows years of explosive growth in low‑value parcels, most of which recent EU data trace back to China.