EU launches comprehensive customs overhaul to modernize trade and boost security

The European Commission confirmed that the EU customs reform has entered into force after approval by the European Council and the European Parliament, with a phased implementation scheduled for later this year. Central to the changes are an updated Union Customs Code and the establishment of the EU Customs Authority (EUCA) based in Lille, which will coordinate risk management and border security across member states. The reform introduces a single entry point for customs operations, harmonises procedures, and reduces administrative burdens for businesses.

It also creates a unified EU-wide data platform that will gradually replace national customs IT systems, enhancing efficiency and cooperation with fiscal and market-surveillance authorities. Additional measures include a temporary low-value import fee and a handling charge for small parcels, set to apply from late 2026, with the data platform becoming mandatory for e-commerce shipments by mid-2028 and for all trade by the early 2030s.