EU customs reform: new €2 fee per item on imports from November

A new fee tied to the European Union's customs reform takes effect at the start of November. It adds a charge of 2 euros per item position on parcels imported directly from outside the EU, and it could make such orders more expensive for consumers.

Per item, not per parcel

The key detail is how the fee is calculated. It applies to each item position, not to each parcel as a whole. A shipment that contains several different products would therefore be charged more than a parcel with a single item. For shoppers who order several things from one non-EU shop in a single package, the extra cost can add up.

The fee is part of the wider customs reform, which changes how low-value goods entering the EU are handled. The new charge is the first visible effect of that reform for many buyers of direct imports.

What it means for buyers

Direct imports from non-EU countries have been a popular way to shop online. The new fee adds a cost on top of the product price and any other charges that may apply. How much more a given order costs will depend on how many item positions it contains.

It is not yet clear from the available information how retailers, marketplaces and shipping companies will handle the fee in practice. They could pass it on to customers directly, absorb part of it or change how they bundle shipments. Buyers should check the final checkout price and the delivery terms of non-EU shops carefully once the rule applies.

The change starts tomorrow, so the first orders affected will be those handled under the new rules from the beginning of November.