The European Union has changed the customs treatment of low-value goods imported from outside the EU. From 1 July 2026, the EU removed the previous customs duty exemption for imported consignments valued at €150 or less and introduced a temporary €3 customs duty per item for qualifying low-value imports. This temporary duty is expected to apply until 1 July 2028, after which standard customs duties will apply based on the product type.
What is changing?
Previously, many goods valued at €150 or less could enter the EU without customs duty, although VAT and customs declaration requirements could still apply. Under the new rules, low-value imports are no longer automatically duty-free. The EU has introduced a fixed customs duty of €3 per item, based on the product’s tariff classification, not simply per package.
New Product Identifier Requirements
In addition to the new low-value import duty, the EU is introducing new product data requirements for goods sold online and imported into the EU.
We've added new product fields to the account for these changes, which can be manually added here. We're also developing the ability to mass import these via the product uploader.
We've been informed these requirements will not be enforced until November 2026.
Courier Status
We've reached out to all carriers, but we are still waiting on some to tell us how they would like these new changes handled when booking shipments in with them. If you do not see your carrier on this list, you can also reach out to them and CC support@shiptheory.com to help increase the importance.
| Carrier Name | Status |
| FedEx | In development |
| UPS | In development |
| Deutsche Post | Deutsche Post have suspended all imports to the EU |
| Yodel | Awaiting response |
| Shift | Awaiting response |
| USPS | Will update us and their requirements before November. |
| DPD UK | They've acknowledged the issue, and we are awaiting their response. |
| DPD Ireland | They've acknowledged the issue, and we are awaiting their response. |
| DPD Netherlands | They've acknowledged the issue, and we are awaiting their response. |
| Evri | Awaiting response |
| DX | Awaiting response |
| APC Overnight | Awaiting response |
| Palletways | Not affected, as they do not claim the duty exemption. |
| The Pallet Network (TPN) | Awaiting response |
| InstaDispatch | Awaiting response |
| Parcel2Go | Awaiting response |
| LFE Transport | Awaiting response |
| Palletforce | Awaiting response |
| XDP | Awaiting response |
| Asendia UK | Awaiting response |
| An Post | Awaiting response |
| Amazon Shipping | Awaiting response |
| P2P Mailing | Awaiting response |
| Whistl | Awaiting response |
| The Delivery Group | Awaiting response |
| Pallex | Awaiting response |