EU Imposes €3 Per-Item Duty on Non-EU Online Orders From July 1

3 articles · Updated · The Irish Times · Jun 20

July 1 will end the EU’s duty-free treatment for non-EU online purchases under €150, replacing it with a €3 charge on each physical item shipped into Ireland and the bloc.
The European Commission fast-tracked the rules from 2028 after nearly 6 billion low-value items entered the EU in 2025, arguing the surge from sellers such as Shein and Temu hurts safety oversight and undercuts local retailers.
Low-cost orders face the sharpest hit: a €3 phone cover from China would cost €6 with the new duty, and €12.95 if the retailer does not collect it at checkout and An Post adds its €6.95 administration fee.
A further EU handling fee of about €2 is expected from November, while customs duty generally will not be refunded on returns unless goods are faulty.
Retailers including Amazon, Boots and Shein are shifting more stock into Irish or EU fulfilment centres to avoid the charge, but Marks & Spencer warns the added cost could shrink product choice for Irish shoppers.

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The Irish Times3d ago

EU Implements New €3 Per-Item Customs Charge on Non-EU Online Imports from July 1st

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People shopping online are set to be hit with an additional €3 charge per item in a parcel when new EU customs rules come into effect next month. For many households, buyi |

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Many ecommerce businesses are still focused on today's shipping costs, but a major EU customs change is now just weeks away. From 1 July 2026, new fees will apply to B2C parcels

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As giants like Shein open EU hubs, will the new €3 import fee end up hurting smaller non-EU sellers the most?

A €3 phone case could now cost €15. Are EU shoppers truly prepared for the full price shock of these new import rules?

Can the EU's new data-driven customs system truly stop the flood of unsafe goods, or will new loopholes quickly emerge?

The End of Duty-Free Online Shopping: EU Introduces €3 Customs Charge on Sub-€150 Parcels from July 2026

Overview

Starting July 1, 2026, the European Union will introduce a fixed €3 customs duty per item type on small parcels valued under €150 from outside the EU, ending the previous exemption for low-value goods. This change means online shoppers will pay more for goods from non-EU retailers, and businesses may need to adjust their product offerings. The Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) will not handle this new duty. To improve traceability, product identifiers will be introduced. These measures aim to create fairer competition for EU businesses and address challenges from the surge in cross-border e-commerce.

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