EU imposes 3-euro duty on cheap non-EU parcels; Poland warns of smishing wave

Why the EU is ending the duty-free threshold

The EU’s customs exemption for packages valued under €150 was designed decades ago when online shopping was sporadic. In 2025, 5.9 billion duty-free parcels from outside the bloc entered the EU, accounting for 97% of all imports by number but only 2% by value. Many were shipped by Chinese platforms like Temu, Shein and AliExpress. The European Commission noted that companies deliberately undervalued goods or split orders to stay below the €150 ceiling. Products from Asia often fail EU safety standards, with problematic items including cosmetics, children’s toys, dietary supplements and protective helmets.

What the new rule means for shoppers

As of 1 July 2026, every item in a parcel coming from outside the EU will be subject to a flat customs charge of €3. This replaces the old system where goods worth up to €150 were exempt. Because the levy applies per item, a package containing three items would carry €9 in fees. The charge is temporary, bridging the period while Brussels builds a full digital customs infrastructure. It will remain in place until 1 July 2028, when the EU expects to replace it with standard duties based on the value and origin of each item. A separate handling fee is due to be introduced by national customs offices in November 2026, though its amount has not yet been set. Some member states had already imposed their own customs charges, which will cease under the new framework.

How it connects to the wider customs reform

The €3 fee is part of a broader reform first proposed in 2023. EU customs currently process an average of 16 million parcels a day, an enormous burden that makes checking every package near impossible. The end state is a centralised e-commerce data hub that will apply proper duties. Until then, the flat fee aims to curb the deluge of cheap imports and ensure a minimum contribution per item.

Poland warns of a smishing wave

Poczta Polska, the state-owned operator handling 300,000 parcels daily, is alerting customers that the rule change creates an opening for fraudsters. The scam works by sending an SMS claiming a parcel has been stopped and needs a small payment, with a link that leads to a fake site designed to steal banking credentials.

“The method used by criminals is to induce a sense of urgency, and the messages they send suggest the need for a quick reaction. The small amount of the alleged surcharge, which the scammers mention, further lowers vigilance. In reality, clicking the link can lead to loss of money or the takeover of online banking access data.”

The company emphasises it never sends SMS messages containing payment links. Customers should verify any request by checking the parcel’s status directly on the carrier’s official website.

How to spot a fake message

Cybersecurity experts recommend ignoring links in SMS from unknown senders and never entering card details or banking logins on a page reached via such a link. If a message threatens that a package will be held unless a payment is made quickly, that urgency is a red flag. Suspicion is warranted especially now that the new customs fee is active and fraudsters can exploit the confusion.