# The EU has introduced a €3 duty on low-value goods from outs…

Since 1 July, the EU has applied a temporary €3 duty per goods item in low-value parcels from third countries. Product identifiers will become mandatory in November, while a separate parcel-handling fee still has no approved amount or date.

Canonical: https://uanear.com/en/slovakia/news/ies-zaprovadyv-myto-3-ievro-na-nedorohi-tovary-z-poza-ies-96574c · Language: en · Updated: 2026-09-13

Services · 2026-06-07

Since 1 July 2026, the EU has applied a temporary €3 customs duty to goods in consignments worth up to €150 that are sold at a distance and imported from outside the EU. It replaced the previous duty exemption for low-value consignments and is to apply until 1 July 2028. The rule concerns all countries of origin and logistics operators, not only Chinese platforms.

The €3 is charged for each goods item in a consignment under customs classification, not for every physical unit. For example, five T-shirts are one goods item and cost €3; a T-shirt and a watch in the same consignment are two items and cost €6. The declarant — normally the seller, importer, or their representative — is generally responsible for payment; consumers pay only in isolated residual cases.

The European Commission stresses that this duty should not be confused with the proposed handling fee for consignments: its amount and autumn 2026 application date have not yet been determined. From 1 November 2026, product identifiers will also become mandatory for better traceability and safety checks. The Commission explains the change by the growth of online imports: in 2025, almost 5.9 billion low-value items from third countries were shipped directly to EU consumers without customs duty.

Source: [European Commission, Directorate-General for Taxation and Cu…](https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/news/guidance-and-legal-text-temporary-flat-fee-low-value-imports-which-will-apply-until-1-july-2028-2026-06-08_en?prefLang=de)
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