The European Union will abolish its EUR150 (US$170) duty-free threshold for imports starting from 1 July 2026, reshaping cross-border e-commerce logistics, reports DHL.

Under the EU Customs Reform, all shipments, regardless of value, will be subject to customs duties and Value Added Tax. A new flat-rate duty of EUR3 per item will apply to low-value B2C shipments, effectively ending the previous exemption.

Consolidated clearance for low-value B2C consignments will no longer be permitted. Shipments must be cleared in the final destination country, while B2B and high-value B2C shipments may still be consolidated with additional documentation.

DHL has warned that the removal of the threshold will increase shipping costs and could lead to higher refusal rates if duties are charged to receivers. The company recommends that shippers adopt Duty Tax Paid services to prepay charges and avoid delivery disruptions.

Businesses will need to provide detailed customs documentation, including itemized values, HS Codes, and country of origin. Incomplete or inaccurate data may result in delays or shipment holds.

DHL urged exporters and online retailers to review their customs strategies, ensure valid Power of Attorney documentation, and leverage electronic declaration tools to adapt to the new regime.