EU Customs Enforcement in Crisis: Key Findings on the €3 Duty, Surge in Imports, and Safety Failures

Collapse in inspection rates

As import volumes have soared, customs authorities have struggled to keep pace. The report finds that the EU control rate fell to just 65 items per million imported in 2025 — the lowest level recorded . The rate of goods refused at the border for non-compliance or serious risk dropped to below 10 items per million .

In 2024, customs authorities carried out only 82 product compliance interventions per million items released for free circulation, corresponding to just 0.0082% of total imports . While the absolute number of checks has increased (from 305,143 in 2022 to 392,529 in 2024), the relative enforcement performance has systematically deteriorated .

Wide disparities between member states

The report points to major differences in enforcement performance across EU countries . In 2024, authorities in just six member states were responsible for supervising 89% of directly imported e-commerce goods . The mismatch is stark: the most active member state refused 175 products per million imports in 2024, while the least active refused only 0.1 per million — a ratio of nearly 1,883 to one . The Commission itself notes it is "implausible that products imported in less performing Member States are inherently more compliant or less dangerous" .

The new €3 customs duty (effective July 1, 2026)

To address both the volume and safety concerns, the EU has acted decisively on the tariff front. From July 1, 2026, the EU applies a temporary flat €3 customs duty per item on low-value consignments (up to €150) imported from outside the EU . This measure abolishes the long-standing duty exemption that allowed such parcels to enter duty-free . The €3 duty is a temporary measure, applying until July 1, 2028, after which normal customs duties will apply .

The charge applies per product category within a shipment, meaning a basket containing several different items could incur multiple €3 charges . This directly targets the business model of Chinese e-commerce platforms that ship individual items directly to EU consumers .

The forthcoming €2 handling fee (from November 2026)

In addition, from November 2026, a handling fee will apply to each small parcel valued under €150 . Multiple confirmed sources report this fee is set at €2 per parcel . The European Commission is expected to formally set and periodically review the exact amount . This fee will be added to the €3 customs duty, bringing the combined charge to roughly €5 per qualifying parcel .

Over half of toys and small electronics failed safety checks

The report highlights a major product safety crisis linked to the import surge. An EU-wide large-scale customs control operation (Priority Control Area) coordinated by the Commission checked 20,000 toys and small electronics shipped directly to EU consumers from third countries .

Results were alarming: more than half of the toys and small electronics checked failed to comply with EU product safety rules . Among products selected for laboratory testing, 84% were found to be dangerous . Most of these non-compliant goods originated from Chinese e-commerce platforms .

Structural reforms: platform liability and the Customs Data Hub

The report and the broader EU customs reform package introduce structural changes to address the systemic weaknesses. Under the new rules, online platforms selling to EU consumers will be classified as importers and will bear responsibility for duty payments and product safety compliance . They will also face fines for importing unsafe products . This is intended to end the legal gray area that currently allows platforms to disclaim responsibility for goods sold by third-party sellers on their marketplaces.

To harmonize enforcement across the 27 member states, the EU is planning a central EU Customs Data Hub. The Hub is expected to become operational around mid-2028 . It is designed to give authorities a single digital system for risk analysis and real-time data sharing, reducing the imbalances in control performance between member states . Until the Data Hub is fully functional, the €3 flat fee and the forthcoming handling fee serve as interim measures to manage the import surge .