A new €2 handling fee on items bought from outside the EU is being introduced from November 1 in a bid to curb the deluge of packages from China.
The new levy comes just weeks before Black Friday sales, which start the Christmas shopping rush, and is on top of the EU’s current €3 fee on small parcels.
The fee will apply to each distinct type of item in a package sent directly to buyers from outside the EU, regardless of the parcel’s value. For example, if there are ten T-shirts in a package, the handling charge will be €2. But if a package contains two hats and ten T-shirts, the charge will be €4.
The €2 handling fee comes on top of the €3 in customs duty per distinct item imposed in July on small packages worth less than €150.
Therefore, anyone ordering ten T-shirts will now pay €3 customs duty plus the €2 handling fee – a total of €5 – plus VAT on the €5. Anyone ordering two hats and ten T-shirts will pay €6 in customs duty and €4 in handling fees, plus VAT.
The EU insists consumers will not pay the handling fee directly. Online marketplaces, including US platforms such as Amazon and Chinese retailers such as AliExpress and Temu, as well as sellers and other intermediaries, must pay the new fee – but they can raise prices to pass the cost on to shoppers.
The EU is introducing the fee as almost six billion small packages are sent into the EU annually, including from the UK, causing a red-tape nightmare and extra work for customs officers.
An Post handles more than ten million parcels annually from non-EU countries, all of which are made available to customs for inspection. An Post also charges an administration fee of €6.95 for parcels that do not have duty paid already.
Michael Kilcoyne of the Consumers’ Association of Ireland agrees that goods not up to standard should not be allowed onto the market, but wants to see evidence that checks are being done to protect shoppers.
He said: ‘I’d like to know what percentage of goods are being turned down because I don’t think there is much of a check being done. It’s to collect extra money, in my view. I haven’t seen any evidence that they’re doing checks, checking that it has the safety mark. It’s vitally important that it’s not just another money-collecting racket.’
Since the EU imposed the €3 duty on small parcels in July, imports have fallen by around 64% – although officials warn it is too early to draw firm conclusions.
Brussels is also concerned about non-EU products, such as toys that are not up to EU safety standards, being delivered.
The €2 handling fee is a permanent levy, but the €3 duty on low-value packages is a temporary measure in place until July 1, 2028. From that date onwards, standard, product-specific customs tariffs will apply.
The EU will assess the handling fee amount every two years.
