The European Union (EU) has signed off on one of the most comprehensive customs reforms of the last 50 years in response to the rapid growth of e-commerce. With the new regulation, significant responsibilities are being introduced especially for platforms engaged in cross-border online sales.
The European Union (EU) approved a comprehensive reform of its customs systems. Representatives of the European Parliament and the governments of EU member states reached a critical agreement late on Thursday, March 26, after lengthy negotiations, and the final details of the new reform were clarified.
As part of the reform, the way has been opened for imposing fines on Chinese e-commerce platforms if they sell illegal or unsafe products. The EU aims to coordinate the collection of customs duties and safety checks more effectively in response to the very high volume of low-value e-commerce parcels entering the bloc.
E-Commerce Platforms Will Be Directly Responsible for the Customs Duties and Safety of the Products They Sell
One of the most striking elements of the reform is that e-commerce platforms will now be treated as “importers.” In this context, platforms such as Amazon, Temu, Shein, and similar companies will be directly responsible for the customs duties and product safety of the goods they sell. In addition, serious fines and operational restrictions are also on the agenda for companies that systematically fail to comply with the rules. Companies that continuously violate the bloc’s rules could face fines ranging from 1% to 6% of their total EU sales over the previous 12 months.
The New Structure Will Become Operational in 2028
At the center of the new system is the European Customs Authority, which will be established in Lille, France. A team of 250 staff members working there will track parcels and manage the new EU data hub, which will provide a centralized, digital overview of incoming goods. The data hub is planned to become operational for e-commerce consignments in 2028 and to cover all imported goods as of March 1, 2033. At the same time, thanks to the digital data platform to be created, companies will be able to share customs information through a single system. This system is expected both to accelerate procedures and to save billions of euros annually.
The Reform Package Focuses on the Import of Low-Value Goods
The reform package focuses particularly on the import of low-value goods. It is stated that more than 90% of the 5.9 billion low-value items that entered the EU in 2025 came from China. For this reason, as of July 1, 2026, a fixed fee of 3 euros will be applied to goods valued below 150 euros. In addition, an extra “handling fee” is planned to be introduced for each shipment by November 1, 2026. With the new regulation, it will become mandatory for all transaction data to be transmitted to the customs system at the time of sale. In this way, authorities will be able to conduct risk analysis before the products cross the border.
EU officials emphasize that the main purpose of the reform is to prevent tax losses, reduce smuggling, and manage the growing volume of e-commerce more effectively. Countries such as Türkiye, which have strong trade ties with the EU, are also expected to be directly affected by this new system.
Nearly 6 Billion E-Commerce Parcels Entered the EU in 2025
The EU does not apply customs duties to parcels valued at less than 150 euros ($173.85). This has supported the rapid growth of online shopping platforms such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress, which send packages directly from China to customers. According to research, the total number of parcels entering EU countries reached 5.8 billion in 2025. Among these parcels, 60% to 65% of imported cosmetic products, including make-up, food supplements, and personal protective equipment such as bicycle helmets, do not comply with the EU’s safety rules.
EU Delegation Will Go to China
As part of the reform, the EU will send a nine-member delegation to Beijing and Shanghai to address problems in the digital and e-commerce sector. According to a statement from the EU Delegation to China, the purpose of this visit is to promote fair competition between China and the bloc. During the three-day meetings, European lawmakers will meet not only with Chinese legislators and market regulators but also with representatives of Shein, Alibaba, and Temu.