The centrepiece in the EU’s reform package is a new set of rules for e-commerce platforms based outside the bloc, which will be treated as “importers” when selling goods into the EU market. These platforms will be responsible for completing all customs procedures and paying duties, rather than shifting the burden to end consumers as was previously the case.

The legal responsibilities have also been substantially expanded. Non-compliant platforms may face annual fines of up to 6% of the value of their imported goods, lose certain customs privileges, or even have their access to the 27-country market curtailed.

The rules are designed to streamline global trade, particularly e-commerce, by improving the collection of customs duties and strengthening controls over freight. To offset the rising costs of monitoring the massive influx of small parcels entering the EU through e-commerce, an EU-wide handling fee for small parcels will be introduced from November 1, 2026.

Notably, the new measures include the establishment of a new decentralised EU customs authority, headquartered in Lille, France, which is slated to launch in 2027. The authority will be responsible for coordinating the governance of the customs and analysing continuously updated data on imports and exports for integration into the future EU Customs Data Hub.

The hub will function as a unified portal for traders to interact with customs authorities across the EU. By helping member states identify the highest-risk consignments so that inspections can be prioritised, the authority is expected to enable the EU to respond promptly to customs-related crises across the bloc.

The EU is under growing pressure to reform its customs system and strengthen oversight of e-commerce as statistics show a rapidly accelerating influx of low-cost goods into the bloc. Since 2022, the number of small parcels imported into the EU market has doubled each year. In 2024 alone, the EU recorded as many as 4.6 billion such parcels. The sharp increase in low-value consignments not only causes losses in customs revenue but also puts immense strain on a customs system that remains fragmented among member states.

Against the backdrop of the global e-commerce boom, European customs authorities are pushing ahead with reforms to fortify the system’s efficiency and security. The European Council has also formally approved new customs rules for imported e-commerce goods, notably a decision to abolish the duty exemption for small parcels of low value.

The move is widely regarded as critical recalibration aimed at addressing long-standing shortcomings in cross-border e-commerce management, safeguarding the EU’s economic security, and ensuring a fairer competitive environment for EU businesses amid geopolitical shifts and the rapid development of the global digital economy.

Following the EU’s move, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) asserted that the new measures would bolster controls over imported goods, protect consumers, and help maintain a fairer and safer internal market. The responsibility now lies with the European Parliament (EP), which is expected to approve the final text this September.

The use of the new data hub to record imports and exports to and from the EU will become mandatory for e-commerce businesses from July 1, 2028, and for all traders from March 1, 2034.

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