The European Parliament has approved a major reform of the European Union’s customs system, introducing stricter oversight of e-commerce imports and establishing a new European customs authority.
The changes are intended to modernize a system facing growing pressure from the enormous volume of low-value parcels ordered directly from retailers and online marketplaces outside the EU. European authorities say existing procedures were not designed to handle the current scale and speed of cross-border e-commerce.
Under the reform, a new EU Customs Authority will be created in Lille, France. It will support cooperation between national customs services, improve risk analysis, and help coordinate the monitoring of goods entering the European market.
A new data platform will also allow customs authorities to share and analyze shipment information more effectively. The system is expected to identify suspicious parcels, unsafe products, counterfeit goods, and attempts to avoid customs duties more quickly.
Online marketplaces will face greater responsibility for the products sold through their platforms. They may be required to provide accurate customs information, calculate applicable charges, and ensure that goods comply with European safety and consumer-protection standards before entering the bloc.
The reform also introduces a handling fee for parcels ordered directly from countries outside the EU. The measure is expected to take effect in November 2026 and is intended to cover part of the administrative cost of processing the rapidly growing number of small packages.
European retailers have long argued that overseas sellers enjoy an unfair advantage when their products enter the EU with limited inspection or incomplete customs declarations. The new rules are designed to create more equal conditions for European businesses while improving consumer protection.
The changes could particularly affect large international e-commerce platforms that ship inexpensive products directly to European customers. Companies may need to adjust their logistics, pricing, customs documentation, and product-compliance procedures.
For consumers, the reform could mean more transparent import charges and safer products, but it may also increase the final cost of some low-value orders. Delivery times could initially be affected as retailers and customs authorities adapt to the new system.
The European Commission says the reform will make customs procedures more efficient while strengthening the EU’s ability to prevent illegal, unsafe, or incorrectly declared goods from entering its market.
