Union handling fee: EUR 2 per item on e-commerce imports
The fee applies to every distance sale, including consignments above EUR 150. It is owed once the declaration is accepted, and it is not refunded.
Customs Compliance & Risk Management (CCRM) journal for practitioners in Europe
Published 20 Oct 2026
News in focus
On 8 October 2026 the Commission announced that its guidance on the EUR 3 customs duty now also covers the Union handling fee. The fee is EUR 2 per item and is expected to apply from 1 November 2026. This article answers three questions: does the fee apply to my declaration, what does it cost, and what must change in my declarations.
