Starting Sunday, parcels from many countries outside the European Union will become even more expensive: as of November 1, the EU is introducing a processing fee of two euros for each distinct item contained in a package. This means an additional cost of at least two euros per shipment—on top of the customs duties on small parcels that have already been in place since July.
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How is the fee calculated?
It is set at two euros per product category. For a parcel containing a T-shirt and a hair clip, for example, the total charge would be four euros. If, however, a parcel contains one, two, three, or even ten T-shirts, the fee remains two euros.
The fee is calculated in the same way as an additional customs duty on small parcels, which the EU introduced in July. That duty is three euros per product category. All in all, this means that, starting in November, such parcels will be at least five euros more expensive than they were before the reforms.
Which countries does it apply to?
It applies to all countries outside the EU. Unlike with customs duties, there are no exceptions for nations such as Norway, Switzerland, or Turkey—countries with which the EU has abolished customs tariffs.
Why an additional fee?
The revenue is intended to cover costs incurred by customs authorities, which have risen significantly in recent years due to a surge in parcel volumes. In 2025, nearly 5.9 billion small packages entered the EU—that is more than 180 shipments every second. Around 93 percent of these originated in China, arriving primarily via online retailers such as AliExpress, Shein, and Temu.
Furthermore, the EU has raised concerns that many of these products fail to meet European safety standards—for instance, by containing small parts that pose a choking hazard, unsafe electrical wiring, or chemicals in children’s toys. European manufacturers argue that the low prices create unfair competition. The customs duties and the new fee are intended to discourage the ordering of such products.
Who pays?
The company shipping its goods into the EU. However, retailers may pass this fee on to their customers—for example, by adding a surcharge at checkout or by raising their prices.
In response to the EU reforms, several online retailers have announced plans to build new warehouses and distribution centers within the EU. They could then ship their goods there in bulk; in such a scenario, the fee would only be applied once—for instance, to a shipment of two hundred T-shirts.
Who receives the revenue?
The fee is collected by the customs authorities in the 27 EU member states, much like a regular customs duty. However, it does not go into the general budget; instead, it is earmarked to cover the costs incurred by customs authorities for inspections, security checks, and administrative processing.
How long will the fee remain in place?
The fee is permanent, though the European Commission is required to re-evaluate it every two years to ensure it remains aligned with the costs incurred by customs authorities. The three-euro duty, by contrast, is set to expire in July 2028; from that point on, regular customs duties will apply to all orders. Prior to the reform, parcels with a value of less than 150 euros were exempt from customs duties.
Author: AFP – jhm/ilo
Sources: AFP Press Portal