EU agrees Customs Union reform imposing new obligations on online platforms

ISTANBUL

European Union institutions have reached an agreement on a customs reform package that will impose additional obligations on online platforms and establish a new EU Customs Authority.

The European Commission said in a statement Friday that negotiators from the Commission, the Council, and the European Parliament struck a deal to overhaul the EU Customs Union framework.

Described as the most far-reaching reform of EU customs rules since 1968, the package is intended to adapt customs procedures to rapid changes in international trade, particularly the sharp rise in e-commerce, while simplifying procedures and improving efficiency through a more modern, data-driven system.

At the center of the reform is a new EU Customs Authority, to be based in Lille, France, which is expected to begin operations in 2027. The authority will coordinate and modernize customs practices across the bloc's 27 member states, facilitate information-sharing, strengthen the uniform application of customs rules, and improve the detection and prevention of customs fraud.

It will also manage the EU Customs Data Hub, a single digital platform for customs procedures across the bloc, allowing businesses to submit data only once instead of navigating multiple national systems.

The reform will further strengthen the framework for trusted traders, giving highly compliant businesses access to simpler procedures and fewer checks, while allowing customs authorities to focus more closely on high-risk shipments.

To address the surge in e-commerce, the package introduces a handling fee on imported goods to help cover rising costs faced by customs administrations, including IT systems, staffing, data checks, and risk analysis. The fee is due to take effect by Nov. 1, 2026.

Under the new system, online platforms and sellers will be required to submit transaction data to the Customs Data Hub as soon as a sale is made, allowing authorities to act before goods reach the border. Platforms will also be responsible for ensuring products comply with EU rules, with penalties applying in cases of systematic non-compliance.

Under the revised rules, online platforms selling into the EU will be treated as importers and held responsible for customs duties and product safety, with fines imposed on those that violate EU regulations. The new customs legislation is expected to enter into force 12 months after publication in the EU's Official Journal.

At present, goods worth less than €150 ($172.7) imported from non-member countries are exempt from customs duties. As a temporary measure, EU countries had already decided to impose a €3 customs charge on online orders below €150 from non-EU countries starting July 1, 2026, with an additional handling fee to follow from Nov. 1 under the latest agreement.

The Commission said 5.9 billion low-value goods were shipped directly to consumers in the EU in 2025, with more than 90% originating from China. The bloc has for some time been weighing new levies targeting purchases made through China-linked e-commerce platforms such as Temu, AliExpress, and Shein.