BRUSSELS – EU to impose €2 fee on online imports from outside the bloc

BRUSSELS, September 25 — The European Union will introduce a new €2.0 ($2.3) fee for handling products ordered online and imported from countries outside the EU, as ATSH-DPA reports.

The measure, expected to take effect on November 1, is part of a European Commission decision to address the surge in small imports, particularly from China.

The fee will apply to millions of products ordered by European consumers on e-commerce platforms.

Under the new rules, the payment responsibility will fall on online sales platforms, not directly on consumers.

The fee will be collected by national authorities.

Among the platforms expected to be affected are e-commerce giants “Shein”, “Temu” and “AliExpress”.

The EU aims to address the large influx of low-priced parcels, which has increased the burden on customs systems and on procedures for checking goods entering the European market.

According to data from EU member states, customs authorities processed about 6 billion parcels from online sellers in 2025.

Around 90 percent of these shipments entered the bloc from China.

The new fee aims to cover costs related to the control, inspection and handling of the growing number of small shipments.

The fee is part of a broader reform of European Union customs rules.

The reform aims at more efficient collection of customs duties and stronger controls on products that do not meet European standards or are considered dangerous and unsafe for consumers.

The reforms also provide for the creation of a new EU customs authority, expected to begin operating in Lille, France next year.

European institutions aim, through these changes, to improve import oversight and adapt the customs system to the rapid growth of e-commerce.