The European Commission says the customs agreement makes online platforms responsible for duties and product safety. For people in Ireland ordering from outside the EU, it brings a handling fee by 1 November 2026, alongside the previously agreed €3 duty on parcels valued below €150 from 1 July 2026.
At a glance
- What changes
- Online platforms become importers
- Who it affects
- People ordering goods from outside the EU
- Duty
- €3 duty on parcels valued below €150 from 1 July 2026
- Handling fee
- Due no later than 1 November 2026
- Data hub
- E-commerce consignments from 2028
On this page
Platforms become responsible for imports
Under the new system, the online platform selling goods into the EU will be treated as the importer. According to RTÉ, platforms will be responsible for paying duties and for product safety.
Companies that repeatedly break EU rules could face fines of between 1 and 6% of their total EU sales over the previous 12 months.
€3 duty starts on 1 July 2026
The Commission says it agreed with member states in November 2025 to remove the duty exemption for parcels valued below €150. They agreed a temporary €3 duty starting on 1 July 2026.
The customs agreement also introduces a handling fee on imported goods. The Commission says this will be introduced no later than 1 November 2026.
Platforms will report sales to customs
Online platforms and sellers will tell customs about their sales through the EU Customs Data Hub immediately after each sale happens, according to the Commission.
The hub is due to open for e-commerce consignments in 2028. It is due to cover all imported goods by 1 March 2034.
5.9 billion low-value items entered the EU in 2025
An estimated 5.9 billion low-value items entered the EU in parcels sent directly to consumers in 2025. More than 90% came from China.
Questions
When does the €3 EU parcel duty start in Ireland?
The temporary €3 duty starts on 1 July 2026. The Commission and member states agreed to remove the duty exemption for parcels valued below €150.
When will the EU handling fee start?
The agreement brings in a handling fee on imported goods, to be introduced no later than 1 November 2026.
Who will pay duties under the EU customs reform?
Online platforms selling into the EU will be treated as importers and responsible for paying duties. They will also be responsible for product safety.
Sources
- RTÉ: EU to fine online platforms importing unsafe products, read 26 March 2026
- European Commission (primary source): Commission welcomes historic agreement to reform EU Customs Union, read 26 March 2026
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PostCompare news desk
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