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Are you aware of the upcoming EU customs changes on July 1st?
June 23, 2026
As an eCommerce retailers selling into the EU, you should already be well aware of upcoming customs changes that may affect the cost of sending low-value parcels to customers in EU member states.
Click here to see the Gov.uk page
We are sharing this information as a general update only, to remind retailers that these changes are coming soon.
StoreFeeder cannot provide customs, tax, courier or legal advice, so retailers should speak directly to their carriers, couriers or appropriate professional advisers if they have any questions about how the changes may affect them.
What is happening?
From 1 July 2026, the EU is set to remove the current customs duty exemption for parcels valued at €150 or below. Under the new rules, a €3 customs duty charge per item will apply to parcels moving from businesses outside the EU to consumers in the EU. Other goods below €150 will instead be charged duty according to the EU’s normal tariff.
The Department for Business and Trade has also advised that this customs duty charge is expected to be followed by an EU-wide handling fee on e-commerce goods from November 2026, although further details are still to be confirmed.
Why this matters for EU sellers
For retailers selling from outside the EU into EU member states, the change may increase the cost of some orders.
The key detail for retailers is that the charge is expected to apply per tariff code, rather than simply per order. This means that if a customer buys several products that all share the same tariff code, one €3 charge may apply. However, if the basket contains products from different categories, each with a different tariff code, the charge could increase for each additional code.
For example, a basket containing only T-shirts may attract one charge, while a basket containing a T-shirt and a pair of shoes could attract two. This is why mixed baskets containing products from different categories may become more expensive to ship into the EU.
Retailers should speak to their carrier or courier to understand exactly how this will apply to the parcels they send.
Speak to your carrier or courier
If you send parcels into the EU, you should speak directly with your carrier or courier to understand how they expect to manage the new requirements.
The Department for Business and Trade advises traders to consult with their express operator to understand the requirements for sending low-value goods to the EU after 1 July 2026.
Review pricing for EU sales
Retailers may also need to review pricing for sales into the EU.
Where additional customs charges, handling fees or carrier costs apply, these may affect whether some orders remain profitable. This could be particularly relevant for lower-value items, lower-margin products, or baskets containing products across multiple tariff codes.
Any pricing review should be based on the retailer’s own order data, product margins, carrier arrangements and customer experience. Retailers should speak to their carrier, courier or professional adviser before making decisions based on the upcoming changes.
Keep watching for updates
The EU customs changes form part of a wider package of reforms, and further guidance is expected as implementation approaches.
Retailers selling into the EU should keep an eye on official updates and continue speaking with their carriers or couriers to understand what the changes mean for their own operation.
This article is intended as general information only. StoreFeeder cannot provide customs, tax, courier, legal or compliance advice.
Businesses should speak directly with their carriers, couriers or appropriate professional advisers for guidance based on their own circumstances.
A few links to the couriers information about this:
