European Parliament Acts to Bar Low-Quality Goods from Non-EU Regions

The European Parliament has adopted a series of proposals aimed at managing the influx of substandard and potentially dangerous cheap goods from non-EU web shops. These measures are part of a major reform of the Union's Customs Code, which negotiations on started on 8th July 2025.

One of the key proposals is the use of warehousing by non-EU traders. This involves setting up warehouses inside the EU to process client deliveries, making it easier to check and ensure the safety of packages. The adopted text of these proposals is from 9th July 2025.

Unfair competition from third-country marketplaces and traders is harming EU retailers and undermining consumer safety. To alleviate the pressure on customs and market surveillance authorities, the Parliament report suggests the use of warehousing, among other methods.

The negotiations on the Customs Code reform are ongoing, with the focus on digitalization, AI tools, and blockchain technology to ease customs overload and make checks more efficient. MEPs urge EU member states to allocate more funds to customs authorities for the uptake of these new tools.

Another proposal supported by MEPs is the imposition of a €2 handling fee for individual e-commerce packages from outside the EU. The report gives some support to the Commission's proposal, but MEPs want the Commission to verify that the fee is proportionate, compliant with WTO rules, and would not be passed on to EU consumers.

MEPs also want EU member states to restrict high-risk vendors from operating in critical infrastructure and border security systems. Approximately 65% of parcels entering the EU are deliberately undervalued, which is why MEPs support the removal of the current customs duty exemption for goods worth less than €150 in the framework of the Customs Code reform.

The negotiations between the Parliament and EU Council on this major reform started on 8th July 2025. On this date, the EU member states that had already started negotiations on the reform of the EU Customs Code system included Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands.

The European Parliament is the source of further information on these proposals and the ongoing negotiations. The EU is called to focus on implementing existing rules and ensuring platforms fulfill their obligations to protect consumers and maintain fair competition within the Union.