New EU Customs Rules: €3 Charge on Non-EU Online Orders from July 1st

New EU customs rules, effective July 1st, will increase the cost of online orders from outside the EU, impacting retailers like Shein, White Fox, and Boots. Marks & Spencer warns these rules could limit product ranges for Irish consumers. The changes, fast-tracked from 2028, introduce a new €3 customs charge per item on all non-EU imports, regardless of value, replacing the previous «de minimis» exemption for goods under €150.

This means a €3 phone cover from a Chinese retailer could double in price. An additional handling charge of approximately €2 is expected from November 2026. If retailers don't collect the duty at checkout, consumers will pay an administration fee upon delivery; An Post, for example, will charge €6.95. This could make a €3 item cost €12.95 from July 1st, potentially rising to €14.95 with the future handling fee.

The EU introduced these rules to address unfair competition from a surge in low-value goods from non-EU countries, particularly China, which often don't meet EU safety standards. In 2025, nearly six billion low-value items were shipped to EU consumers without customs duties. The new €3 charge applies per item, except for multiple identical items, which count as one. Digital goods are exempt. Trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is unaffected.

Retailers like Shein, Temu, and AliExpress will be significantly impacted. UK retailers shipping to Ireland, such as Boots and Amazon.co.uk, will also incur the charge. Consumers are advised to check shipping origins, as .ie or .de website addresses don't guarantee EU dispatch. Customs duty is non-refundable for returns unless the item is faulty. Retailers are exploring solutions like increasing EU fulfillment centers; Shein recently opened a logistics facility in Co Dublin.