Croatia ends duty‑free exemption for EU imports under €150, affecting online shoppers

From 1 July, Croatia will abolish the duty‑free exemption for parcels under €150 entering the EU from third‑country e‑commerce sites. The new rule imposes a flat customs charge of €3 per product type, regardless of quantity, with most shipments (about 91 %) currently coming from China. The Croatian Chamber of Commerce warned that the change could raise the overall cost of low‑value items and cited a consumer survey showing 52 % of shoppers may stop buying from overseas sites, 17 % plan to reduce purchases, and only 12.5 % intend to keep buying as before. The chamber also highlighted safety concerns, noting that many imported toys lack CE certification and pose risks. The policy shift follows a rapid increase in cross‑border parcel volumes, which have doubled each year since 2022, prompting the government to tighten controls to protect the market, safety standards, and the environment.