EU revamps customs code and introduces €3 duty, curbing low‑value imports in Hungary
The European Parliament has adopted a revised customs code that designates non‑EU online marketplaces as the importers of goods sold to EU consumers, shifting customs and tax obligations onto the platforms and creating a new sanctions regime that can fine companies and suspend trusted trader status. The legislation also calls for an EU‑wide handling charge for low‑value parcels to be introduced by November, with the exact rate to be set later.
A July 1 rule eliminated the previous exemption for consignments up to €150 and introduced a €3 duty per item based on tariff classification. In Hungary, parcels arriving from outside the bloc fell by around 750,000 in the first two quarters of 2026, while orders from EU sources rose by more than 1.25 million, according to a senior e‑commerce consultant.
How this was covered
- Right-leaning outlets covered this 90h later
Why it matters
The changes affect the price and availability of cheap overseas goods for European shoppers and impose new compliance costs on global online marketplaces.
How this story developed
- Sep 13 EU customs fee curbs Temu, Shein and AliExpress sales in Hungary
- Sep 26 The European Parliament approved a customs code overhaul that shifts import responsibility to non‑EU e‑commerce platforms.
