What the New EU Customs Rules Mean for Australian Online Sellers
All you need to know about the new EU customs rules affecting your parcels from 1 July 2026.
Estimated reading time: 4-5 minutes
What You Need to Know
If you sell products to customers in Europe, there's a significant change coming that affects every parcel you send.
From July 2026, the EU is removing the €150 duty-free threshold that most low-value parcels have benefited from - and replacing it with a flat €3 customs duty per item category or commodity code. That means duties now apply to almost every parcel entering the EU, regardless of value.
The EU is also changing the way it handles cross-border eCommerce imports more broadly. For Australian small businesses, marketplace sellers, and online retailers shipping to Europe, these changes will affect you in a number of ways - making it important to get ahead of the game.
Here's what's changing, what it means for you, and how to get ahead of it.
The key changes taking effect on 1 July 2026
1. The €150 duty-free threshold is being removed
Under the old rules, goods valued at €150 or less could enter the EU without customs duties - which covered the vast majority of eCommerce parcels.
From 1 July 2026, that exemption is gone. All goods, regardless of value, may now be subject to customs duties when entering the EU.
If your average order value sits well under €150, this change directly affects your cost structure and how you price for EU customers.
2. A new €3 flat customs duty per item category
To make duty collection more practical at scale, the EU is introducing a flat €3 customs duty per item category (or commodity code) for low-value parcels.
A few things worth knowing about how this works:
Multi-item orders can attract multiple duty charges - one charge per item category
What you sell, and how you bundle your parcels, directly affects the total cost of your delivery
3. More responsibility sits with sellers (not customers)
The new framework shifts customs compliance responsibility to sellers and logistics partners - rather than expecting end customers to sort it out at the door.
This aligns much more closely with a Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) model, where costs are transparent and fully paid before delivery rather than landing on your customer as a surprise at their door.
For Australian sellers used to shipping DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid), this is a meaningful shift in how you'll need to think about EU fulfilment.
4. Item-level customs declarations are now mandatory
From July, you'll need to provide more detailed, item-level customs data with every shipment - including accurate product classification and declared values. This isn't new, but the requirements are stricter so it's important to get it right!
When sending a parcel with SendNow, we will help you to identify the specifc commodity code for your item(s). All you need to do is enter your parcel content accurately during checking and we'll show you the correct commodity code.
What Does This Actually Mean for Your Business?
Your costs will change.
For most Australian sellers shipping low-value goods to Europe, duties were effectively zero. That changes on 1 July. Even small orders will now carry a duty charge, plus potential handling fees, on top of existing VAT.
Your customers' experience could be impacted.
Unexpected charges at delivery are one of the fastest ways to lose your customertrust - and with EU reforms making those charges standard, the businesses that pre-pay duties and taxes will stand out from those that don't.
Your shipping declatation needs to be accurate.
Incorrect product classifications or missing declaration data can cause delays, additional fees, or packages being held at customs. Getting your product data right before shipment is no longer optional.
Multi-item orders need a rethink.
If you commonly ship orders with multiple product types, the €3 duty per item category means your cost-per-order calculation changes significantly depending on what's in the box.
How SendNow Can Help
Navigating EU customs changes can be tricky - but it doesn't have to be disruptive!
SendNow by Asendia offers flexible international shipping solutions to the EU designed to simplify duty and tax management, keep your delivery experience consistent, and help your business stay compliant as requirements evolve.
Our e-PAQ Select service allows you to fully pre-pay all customs and duties even before your parcel leaves the country.
This means your customers won't have any surprises and your deliveries will remain on-time and smooth. Book reliable international services to Europe and beyond with SendNow - starting from just $12.90.
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