EU sets new customs fees on cheap parcels and bans single‑use plastics from July 2026

From 1 July 2026 the European Union will apply a €3 customs fee on parcels valued under €150 that are shipped from non‑EU online stores. The fee is calculated per product category in the package, so a shipment containing three different categories (e.g., a shirt, a phone case and earbuds) would incur €9. The measure aims to protect consumers and ensure fair market competition, while parcels above €150 remain subject to existing rules.

A separate EU regulation takes effect in August 2026, prohibiting single‑use plastic packaging in hotels, restaurants and cafés. The rule also bans PFAS chemicals in food packaging, limits the amount of empty space in containers, and from February 2027 requires eateries to allow customers to bring their own containers. The EU targets recycling of at least 70 % of non‑plastic waste and 50 % of plastic waste by 2030.