The European Commission is working on a new fee for packages from outside the EU. This surveillance fee is intended to facilitate better product inspections. The fee will be in addition to the 3-euro import duty and the upcoming 2-euro fee for customs clearance.
For years, Brussels has watched with concern as packages from online retailers—particularly those from China—have flooded the European Union. Many of the incoming products do not comply with the regulations in effect here. This is not only unsafe for consumers, but also unfair to businesses.
Import duty and handling fee
By eliminating exceptions and establishing new rules, the European Commission is trying to change this. As of July 1 of this year, a flat import fee of 3 euros per product category in a package has been in effect. Starting in July 2028, this flat fee will be replaced by standard customs duties.
The processing fee is coming up soon
As of November 1, a separate handling fee of 2 euros per declaration line is expected to be introduced. This does not include any VAT, as was announced this week. This handling fee is intended to strengthen inspection of ecommerce shipments. For example, currently, Dutch Customs lacks the capacity to properly inspect packages from China. In its latest annual report, the agency identified this lack of oversight as a top risk.
Surveillance fee
A leaked draft of the planned European Product Act reveals that a third fee will be introduced in the future. The draft explicitly mentions the so-called “Union market surveillance fee.” This surveillance fee also applies to products entering the European market from outside the EU. The fee is intended to help finance the costs of market surveillance and product inspections.
Fines of up to 6% of global annual revenue
According to the leaked draft, the market surveillance fee will, in principle, be borne by importers, although it remains to be determined exactly who is liable for payment in the case of direct shipments from online retailers. The fee must be proportional to the estimated costs of market surveillance and must be lower for bulk imports than for individual package shipments to consumers. The proposal also provides for fines of up to 6 percent of global annual revenue.
