Three-euro customs fee applies to all EU imports from Wednesday

A minimum customs fee of three euros will apply to every shipment ordered from outside the EU starting Wednesday, as part of an EU-wide reform targeting the surge in low-value imports, Yle reports.

The fee is charged per “commodity item,” meaning each distinct type of product in a shipment. For example, a package containing a T-shirt and socks counts as two items, incurring a six-euro fee, while three identical T-shirts count as one, with a single three-euro charge.

In practice, each individual package may also be treated as a separate item. If a retailer ships five identical caps in separate parcels, the customs fee would apply five times.

Consumers will likely see the change reflected in higher prices from online retailers, which typically handle customs clearance on their behalf. However, buyers from smaller platforms like Temu or Shein may need to pay the fee themselves via Finnish Customs’ online service.

The reform, taking effect in phases, aims to curb the explosive growth of low-value shipments. Last year, Finland received nearly 55 million shipments valued under 150 euros—69% more than the previous year—with over 98% originating from China. Each shipment contained an average of four commodity items.

Finland’s role as a transit hub for such parcels has also grown, with 14 million items passing through the country in 2025. EU-wide, low-value shipments surged from 1.4 billion in 2022 to 5.8 billion in 2025.

The new fee applies to all non-EU countries, including the UK, Switzerland, and Norway. It may push retailers like Temu to establish more warehouses in Europe, as bulk shipments become relatively cheaper, according to Antti Hästbacka, a senior customs inspector.

In November, Finnish Customs plans to introduce an additional handling fee for all online purchases, including those over 150 euros. The exact amount remains undecided, though two euros has been discussed. Like the customs fee, it will apply per commodity item.

Customs fees are collected for the EU, but the processing country retains 25% as a handling charge. If current trends continue, Finland could gain around 40 million euros annually from the new system.

Hästbacka noted that while parcel volumes have continued to grow this spring, the overall annual total in Finland may decline. Industry speculation suggests customs processing could increasingly shift to major Central European hubs, reducing direct shipments to Finland.

The reforms were implemented unusually quickly, with the law taking effect just six months after the political decision. This has posed challenges for authorities and logistics firms, with exceptions likely to test customs staff in the coming weeks.