The reform of the EU Customs Code, with stricter rules for e-commerce, a new processing fee for packages from third countries, and the creation of a new EU Customs Authority, was finalized by the European Parliament on Wednesday.
The reform provides for the imposition of a processing fee on every item purchased from an online store outside the EU and shipped directly to a consumer within the Union. The fee will be paid by the entity responsible for the parcel’s other customs charges, while the exact amount will be set by the European Commission and reviewed every two years.
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Member States must begin collecting the fee no later than November 1, 2026.
Responsibility of Sellers and Platforms
Under the new rules, sellers and online platforms that facilitate distance sales of goods from third countries directly to customers in the EU will be treated as importers.
As a result, they will be required to provide customs authorities with the necessary information, pay or guarantee the relevant duties and taxes, and ensure that products entering the European market comply with EU legislation.
These companies must be established in the EU or represented by an entity based in the Union that holds the status of an authorized economic operator or “reliable trader.”
Companies that repeatedly violate the rules face fines ranging from 1% to 6% of the total value of the goods they imported into the EU over the previous 12 months. Customs authorities will also be able to suspend or revoke the status of a trusted trader or authorized economic operator and designate companies as high-risk.
New customs data hub
A central element of the reform is the creation of a pan-European digital customs system, the EU Data Hub, which will be managed by the new EU Customs Authority.
The hub is expected to be available for optional use by 2031 at the latest and to become mandatory by 2034. Under the new framework, it will replace at least 111 different software systems currently used by customs authorities across Europe.
For businesses, the goal is to simplify the declaration of goods and communication with customs services, while for the authorities, the aim is to improve risk analysis and strengthen cross-border cooperation.
The new EU Customs Authority will be headquartered in Lille, France, and its key responsibilities will include coordinating customs cooperation, risk management, and the operation of the Data Hub.
Import and export companies that comply with the rules and provide customs authorities with access to their electronic systems will be able to participate in a simplified regime “trust and control” regime.
In return, they will be subject to fewer inspections and will have greater flexibility in paying duties and fees. The existing Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) scheme will remain in place so that it remains accessible to smaller economic operators as well.
At the same time, sellers and third-country platforms are encouraged to use warehouses within the EU and to make larger, consolidated shipments, which are considered easier to clear through customs. For subsequent intra-EU shipments to customers, a lower processing fee applies, provided the relevant conditions are met.
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Source: CNA
