The European Union has abolished its €150 (R2 800) customs duty exemption for low-value imports and introduced a temporary flat €3 (R56) customs duty on qualifying consignments entering the bloc from non-EU countries from July 1.
The change, announced by the European Commission, replaces the long-standing customs duty exemption for consignments with an intrinsic value of up to €150 (R2 800). The temporary measure will remain in place until July 1, 2028, when it will be replaced by a broader customs reform.
The €3 (R56) customs duty applies per item in a consignment, based on its tariff classification, rather than per parcel, according to the Commission's guidance. It applies to eligible distance sales of imported goods valued at no more than €150 (R2 800), irrespective of the VAT collection method used.
The Commission said the temporary flat-rate duty had been introduced to simplify customs procedures while preparations continue for the EU Customs Data Hub and wider customs reform package, which is expected to replace the interim system in 2028.
Nearly 5.9 billion low-value consignments had entered the EU in 2025, compared with 1.3bn in 2022, the Commission said, adding that the previous exemption no longer reflected the scale of cross-border e-commerce.
