The European Commission is tightening regulations on e-commerce imports to address the surge of unsafe and counterfeit goods, particularly from China, by reforming customs rules and increasing product safety checks. Key measures include removing the duty exemption for low-value parcels, introducing a potential customs fee, establishing priority control areas, and launching an EU-wide product safety review. These efforts aim to protect consumers, enhance compliance with EU standards, and ensure fair competition for businesses.
Slovenia: EU Targets Unsafe E-Commerce Imports with New Measures
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Author: Ivana Picajkić
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Content accuracy validation date:
13.02.2025
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The European Commission is taking new steps to ensure products purchased online from outside the EU meet European safety and environmental standards. Citing a surge in potentially dangerous and counterfeit goods, the Commission is calling for stricter enforcement and considering new fees on imported products.
The popularity of online shopping continues to grow, with 70% of EU citizens making purchases online. This has led to a massive influx of low-value goods (under €150) entering the EU, with approximately 12 million parcels arriving daily. The Commission notes that the number of these items purchased from outside the EU nearly doubled between 2023 and 2024, with a large percentage originating from China. Popular retailers include Shein and Temu.
Many of these products fail to meet EU safety, health, and environmental standards, prompting the need for coordinated action.
To address these challenges, the European Commission is implementing a multi-pronged approach:
- Customs Union Reform: Building upon the proposed Customs Union Reform Package from May 2023, the EU aims to remove the exemption from duty for low-value parcels (under €150),
- Potential New Customs Fee: The Commission is considering a new customs fee specifically for products shipped directly to consumers, with the fee amount to be determined,
- Priority Control Area: A "priority control area" will be established to intensify import controls on products purchased online, allowing for better detection of unsafe or non-compliant goods,
- Product Safety Sweep: The first EU-wide coordinated product safety review is planned for the second quarter of this year,
- Enhanced Cooperation: The Commission is calling for deeper cooperation between member states' agencies and the EU, as well as the use of AI tools to detect illegal goods,
- Product Testing: Product testing capabilities are being established to identify and remove dangerous products from the market.
The Commission's actions aim to create a safer e-commerce environment for EU consumers and ensure fair competition for businesses that adhere to European standards.