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New fees apply from tomorrow: per item, not per package

Policy2 min read

From next month, sellers must pay a new EU fee of 2 euros for each product line in an online order shipped to the EU from outside the EU. It is called the Universal Handling Fee (UHF).

A new fee for parcels from outside the EU

Starting at the beginning of the month, a new fee applies to online orders from outside the EU. The fee is called the Universal Handling Fee, or UHF. Sellers must pay 2 euros for each product line in an order that is sent straight to customers. Delivery to a pickup point also counts as a direct send. The fee pays for handling the import of these goods into the EU customs area.

Key numbers

  • The UHF is 2 euros for each product line in an order.
  • A temporary minimum customs duty has applied since June. It covers low-value shipments worth less than 150 euros.
  • From July to September 2026, shipments into the EU fell by 60 percent.
  • Low-value shipments dropped from about 1.5 billion to about 500 million.

How the fees add up

The UHF is not temporary, and it does not depend on the 150-euro limit. So it also applies to more expensive goods. Example: three USB cables at 3 euros, one pot at 10 euros, and five T-shirts at 10 euros each. That order has three product lines with the UHF plus the minimum duty for each item, which adds up to 15 euros in fees on a 69-euro order. Three power banks at 25 euros each, however, count as one product line, so the fees come to 5 euros in total. Goods shipped from a warehouse inside the EU pay neither fee, because the import has already been handled. Belgium is currently the main entry point, mainly by air freight. The sender or the platform must calculate and pay these fees, not the buyer.

Why it matters

The EU wants to slow the flood of small parcels from Asia. It is not yet clear whether online shops will pass the costs on to buyers. Sellers may not show these fees as a separate charge during checkout. For German public budgets, the new fee is not expected to bring in much money, because most of it goes to the EU budget.

What to watch

  • Whether online shops pass the fees on to customers, in full or in part.
  • Whether the number of small parcels keeps falling after the new fee starts.
  • How the EU plans to find dangerous products more easily in shipments.

Glossary

Universal Handling Fee (UHF)
A new EU fee of 2 euros per product line in direct online orders from outside the EU.

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