A new management system for small parcels will take effect this coming November as part of the new European reform. The cost will be €2 per package, and e-commerce platforms will now be considered importers.
Speaking on the “Alpha News” program, Customs Department Spokesperson Giorgos Konstantinou addressed the demand for small parcels following the imposition of the tariff. According to his statements, data from the last two months show that demand has decreased slightly compared to previous months. As he noted, the imposition of tariffs had already been announced for July, prompting consumers to rush to place their orders in time to avoid the new charges. As for August, he stated that it is a vacation month, so it is possible that many people did not engage in online shopping. As he notes, September, October, and November are the months that will indicate how the situation will unfold, as these months see particularly high market activity.
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According to Mr. Konstantinou, an additional administrative processing fee of approximately €2 per package is set to be imposed in November. The European Parliament has approved the final text of the customs reform, which changes the way customs operates. At the same time, this reform is also changing e-commerce. The purpose of the reform is to cover the costs of increased digital and physical customs inspections, as well as to ensure product safety.
He explained that achieving this will require additional working hours from customs personnel, possibly an increase in staff and equipment, as well as training for staff to detect violations. For this reason, the additional administrative costs will be passed on at all EU customs offices. He pointed out that the €2 applies to the entire package.
It should be noted that e-commerce platforms will be considered importers of the goods when they are sold in the EU.
