European Parliament approves reform of the EU Customs Code / New fees for parcels from outside the Union and a European customs authority

On Wednesday, September 16, in Strasbourg, the European Parliament approved a major reform of the European Union Customs Code. The new rules introduce a processing fee for each item purchased from online shops outside the EU and delivered directly to European consumers, as well as a new EU Customs Authority.

The fee will be paid by the entity that pays the other customs duties applicable to the parcel, in order to prevent the costs from being passed on to consumers. Its amount will be set by the European Commission and reviewed every two years. Member states will begin collecting it no later than November 1, 2026.

Platforms and sellers from third countries will be considered importers and will have to provide the necessary data, pay the fees and guarantee that products comply with European legislation. Companies that repeatedly violate the rules may receive fines of between 1% and 6% of the value of goods imported over the previous 12 months.

The reform also provides for the creation of the EU Data Hub information system, which will replace at least 111 national systems. Its use will be optional from 2031 and mandatory by 2034. The European Customs Authority, headquartered in Lille, will coordinate risk management and cooperation between states.

The Council of the EU had already approved the reform, and the Parliament's vote represented the final stage of the procedure. The rules will enter into force after publication in the Official Journal of the EU and will be fully applied 12 months after their entry into force.