EU to Charge €3 on Parcels Under €150 Starting Wednesday

The European Commission will end the de minimis exemption for parcels worth less than €150, applying a €3 customs charge starting Wednesday. Officials said the change targets the rapid growth of low-value shipments, mainly from China. The number of such parcels entering the bloc rose from 1.3 billion in 2022 to 5.9 billion in 2025, with about 90 percent originating in China.

Officials stated that platforms including Shein and Temu have increased competition for European retailers.

EU research released on Monday found that 60 percent of online products imported from outside the bloc did not meet EU standards. Cosmetics and toys each showed a 65 percent non-compliance rate, while 63 percent of imported food supplements and 60 percent of imported personal protective equipment failed tests.

Last month regulators fined Temu €200 million for allowing illegal and dangerous products on its platform. Officials said the €3 fee and removal of the duty-free threshold are intended to create a level playing field for small European businesses. Shein has opened pop-up stores in Hungary and a distribution center in Poland that may allow it to adjust operations.

In the UK, the Treasury announced last week that import duties on parcels under £135 will begin in October 2028.