Policy & Compliance
Commission unveils new measures to strengthen EU e-commerce rules
Customs reporting, making it easier to detect non-compliant products before they reach EU consumers. In addition, the Commission is considering the introduction of a handling fee for e-commerce imports, ensuring that the costs of Customs enforcement are not unfairly borne by EU taxpayers but are instead covered by importers, which could be the private individual. Controversial exemption The de minimis exemption is currently proving controversial; the US administration has already announced its intention to abolish its admittedly relatively high de minimus threshold. However, there have been delays as systems and processes are upgraded to deal with the increased number of Customs declarations. There is a need to address under- valuation, fraud and illicit trade in e-commerce. However, abolishing the de minimis threshold will significantly increase the number of Customs declarations, and therefore the workload of Customs administrations, freight forwarders and Customs agents. BIFA would like to thank CLECAT for the information on which this article is based.
The rapidly growing number of low-value consignments bought online is raising increasing concerns about consumer safety, environmental impact and fair competition
T he European Commission comprehensive strategy to address the growing challenges posed by e-commerce imports. With 70% of Europeans regularly purchasing goods online, the rapid rise in low- value consignments has raised concerns over consumer safety, environmental impact and fair competition. The Commission highlights the risks associated with the increasing number of goods imported directly to consumers. The surge in e-commerce has led to a rise in unsafe, counterfeit and non- published a Communication in February 2025 outlining a compliant products reaching EU markets, posing significant health and safety risks. Major concerns At the same time, the environmental impact of individual parcel deliveries and the waste generated by low-quality, short-lived products have become major concerns. Additionally, EU-based businesses face unfair competition, as non-EU sellers often benefit from lower regulatory and fiscal obligations,
creating an uneven playing field. To tackle these challenges, the Commission is pushing for stricter enforcement of EU product safety and environmental rules, calling for closer coordination between Customs and market surveillance authorities. Ensuring that goods imported through e-commerce channels comply with EU standards is a priority. A key measure proposed is the abolition of the €150 de minimis exemption, which currently allows imports of low-value consignments to enter the EU without Customs duties. This exemption has been widely used by e-commerce platforms and non-EU sellers, making it easier to undercut EU businesses and evade certain regulatory requirements. Its removal is expected to improve oversight of e-commerce imports, ensuring that all goods are subject to the same level of scrutiny. The Commission’s plan is linked to the ongoing EU Customs reform, which aims to modernise Customs procedures and strengthen control capacities. The reform will introduce the EU Customs Data Hub, designed to centralise and streamline
“ The Commission is pushing for stricter enforcement of EU product safety and environ - mental rules, calling for closer coordination
between Customs
and market surveillance authorities
8 | April 2025
www.bifa.org
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker