The European Union’s new two-euro handling fee for small items sold through cross-border e-commerce took effect on November 1, adding another cost to a fast-growing stream of low-value imports. The measure is intended to help customs authorities pay for inspections and oversight as parcel volumes continue to rise.
The Council of the EU distinguishes the handling fee from the temporary three-euro customs duty that has applied since July to goods in parcels valued below €150. That duty is calculated by product category rather than simply by parcel, so the two charges serve different purposes and may both be relevant to an order.
Under the updated framework, platforms and sellers based outside the EU are responsible for customs formalities and payments; consumers are not the legally liable party. Businesses may still reflect some costs in retail prices, however, leaving shoppers to watch the final checkout total and giving low-cost marketplaces an incentive to adjust their fulfilment models.
European Commission figures show that about 4.6 billion e-commerce parcels worth less than €150 entered the bloc in 2024, with 91% originating in China. A Commission document cited by Reuters estimates that the wider charges could generate close to €6 billion annually for the EU budget between 2028 and 2034, although the forecast depends on how retailers and consumers respond to the new rules.
Photo: Anastasiya Doicheva / Unsplash
