EU parcel fee on non-EU packages starts November 1

The European Union will introduce a two-euro handling fee on packages from outside the 27-nation bloc from November 1, adding a new cost for online marketplaces, sellers and other intermediaries.

The fee will apply to each type of item in a package sent directly to consumers from outside the EU, regardless of the parcel's value. A package containing 10 T-shirts would face a two-euro fee, while one containing two hats and 10 T-shirts would face a four-euro fee.

The EU says consumers will not pay the handling fee directly, but platforms and sellers can raise prices to cover the higher costs. The fee will apply alongside a three-euro duty imposed in July on small packages worth less than 150 euros.

Official data cited by Brussels says nearly six billion small packages entered the EU last year, with 93 percent of cheap packages arriving in Europe from China, often through platforms such as AliExpress and Temu. The EU says the new levy will help cover customs costs linked to the rise in such imports.

The two-euro handling fee is permanent. The three-euro duty on low-value packages is temporary and is due to remain in place until July 1, 2028, after which standard product-specific customs tariffs will apply.