The European Union is preparing to phase out its long-standing de minimis rule, which currently allows low-value goods—those priced below roughly $174—to enter the bloc without paying customs duties. EU member states formally endorsed the change on Nov. 13, marking a significant shift in how small parcels entering the EU will be taxed.
The removal of the threshold will take effect once the new EU customs data hub becomes operational, a central digital system designed to process customs information and automatically determine duties on individual items. The hub is still being negotiated between the Council of the EU and the European Parliament and is expected to launch in 2028 as part of a sweeping modernization of the bloc’s customs framework.
To avoid waiting several years for the full system to be in place, the Council said it aims to introduce an interim mechanism by 2026 that would allow customs duties to be applied on low-value shipments earlier. Details on how this provisional solution will work have not yet been released.
EU officials say the end of the de minimis relief is intended to address rising concerns about undervalued parcels entering the bloc, strengthen oversight of cross-border e-commerce, and ensure fair competition for EU businesses.
