EU rolls out new customs fees and mandatory online return button for Italian e‑commerce in 2026

From 1 July 2026 the European Union will end the duty‑free allowance for parcels under €150 arriving from non‑EU countries. A temporary customs charge of €3 per item will apply, and the amount can be multiplied when a shipment contains several distinct items. Italy plans to add a €2 national contribution per shipment, meaning many orders could face an extra cost of about €5.

From 19 June 2026 Italy will implement a “pulsante di recesso”, a dedicated return‑button on e‑commerce websites and apps, as required by EU directive 2023/2673. The measure aims to simplify the consumer’s right of withdrawal. The Italian e‑commerce association Aicel warned that the technical and organisational adjustments could be burdensome for small and medium enterprises. Its president Andrea Spedale said the rule “risks becoming another formal obligation for merchants without delivering real added value for consumers.”