Black Friday Shoppers Face New EU Import Fee From November

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BRUSSELS, Oct. 21 – Consumers ordering goods directly from online retailers outside the European Union could face a new cost factor ahead of this year’s Singles Day and Black Friday sales events. A new processing fee of €2 per customs item is expected to take effect from November 1, adding to the existing €3 customs charge introduced on July 1.

The measure applies only to goods shipped directly from non-EU retailers to customers within the EU. Orders fulfilled from warehouses located inside the EU, or purchases from EU-based merchants, will not be affected.

First Major Shopping Events Impacted

If implemented on schedule, the new fee will affect Singles Day on November 11 and Black Friday on November 27, making them the first major discount shopping events subject to the additional charge.

However, the start date remains conditional. The European Commission set the fee level in a delegated regulation adopted on September 21. The measure will only enter into force after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union and will apply from the tenth day following publication. To meet the November 1 target date, publication would need to occur by approximately October 22. As of October 20, no confirmation of publication had been issued.

Should publication occur later, the implementation date would be delayed accordingly.

Customs Oversight Costs

The European Commission says the fee is intended to help cover the costs of customs supervision, including data verification, risk assessments and inspections of imported goods.

Importantly, the fee is calculated per customs item rather than per individual product. In practice, products sharing the same customs tariff classification and country of origin are generally treated as a single item. For example, an order containing ten identical T-shirts would normally count as one customs item.

However, the legislation does not explicitly define the term, leading some industry groups to interpret the fee more strictly as potentially applying to each individual article.

Consumers Unlikely to Pay Directly

According to information provided by the European Parliament, the processing fee is intended to be paid by the same party responsible for other customs obligations on imported parcels, meaning consumers should not be charged directly. In most cases, this would place responsibility on online marketplaces, platforms or importers.

Nevertheless, industry experts say consumers could still feel the impact through higher product prices.

“One platform can factor three euros into its pricing calculations, consolidate shipments and move inventory to warehouses inside the EU,” said Tim Arlt, managing director of Germany’s Händlerbund trade association. “A small shop does not have the same flexibility.”

Some retailers have already adjusted prices to account for the existing €3 customs charge.

No Value Limit for New Fee

Unlike the €3 charge, which applies only to shipments valued at up to €150, the new €2 processing fee has no value threshold and will also apply to more expensive purchases.

Under Article 20(6) of the new Union Customs Code, the processing fee is also non-refundable. This means that while customers may receive a refund for returned merchandise, the import-related fee remains with the importer.

For retailers and platforms handling large numbers of returns, the rule could create additional costs that may ultimately be reflected in consumer prices.

Part of Wider Customs Reform

The processing fee forms part of the EU’s most significant customs overhaul in decades. Under the reform, online platforms based outside the EU will increasingly be treated as importers and held responsible for customs duties, taxes and product safety compliance, rather than individual consumers.

Companies that fail to meet their obligations could face fines of up to 6% of the previous year’s import value.

The European Commission is expected to review the fee level every two years. National import-related surcharges currently used in countries such as France and Italy are expected to be phased out once the EU-wide fee takes effect.

Surge in Online Imports

The reform comes amid a sharp increase in low-value imports into the bloc. In 2025, around six billion e-commerce parcels entered the EU, with more than 90% originating from China. The European Commission reported 5.9 billion small consignments during the year, roughly four times the volume recorded in 2022.

From 2027, a new EU Customs Authority based in Lille, France, is expected to coordinate customs controls across the bloc.

Advice for Shoppers

Consumers planning to take advantage of Singles Day or Black Friday promotions are advised to check the final checkout price rather than focusing solely on advertised discounts. Buyers should also verify whether customs charges and import-related fees are already included in the purchase price.

The new processing fee only affects goods shipped directly from non-EU retailers to customers in the EU. Orders dispatched from EU-based warehouses remain exempt, making the shipping location an increasingly important factor for online shoppers seeking to avoid additional costs.