Norwegian customs warn of lost control over surging Chinese e-commerce imports

Norwegian customs authorities are warning of a significant loss of control due to a massive surge in small parcels arriving from Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Temu and Shein. In August, a new record was set with over 1.1 million small packages registered, averaging more than 35,000 daily shipments. This represents a 35 percent increase compared to August of the previous year.

Karin Schaug, leader of the Norwegian Customs Union, stated that the sheer volume and inconsistent documentation regarding product contents make effective oversight “nearly impossible.” Previous spot checks on goods ordered from Temu have uncovered dangerous and prohibited substances, leading officials to suggest that current findings may only represent the “tip of the iceberg.”