From July 1, the European Union is changing the rules for small parcels from non-EU countries sent by companies such as Temu and Shein, as the duty exemption for purchases of up to €150 is being abolished and a €3 duty is being imposed per product category, not per parcel.
In other words, if a small parcel contains products from different categories, the duty will be added up. For example, if the parcel contained one silk blouse (Category 1) and two wool blouses (Category 2), the duty would reach €6.
The idea for the change had been under consideration for a year, as Proto Thema revealed in May 2025, while the decision was finalized at the Ecofin Council of Finance Ministers last November.
The charge will also apply to parcels arriving in Greece from warehouses that these companies have set up within EU territory.
The measure aims to limit mass imports of low-value goods and protect European businesses.
Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis backed the abolition of the €150 threshold and the acceleration of the measures’ implementation as early as 2026, with the aim of protecting small and medium-sized enterprises as well as consumers from competition from companies outside the European Union.
The Commission’s decision does not exempt purchases from platforms or online shops based in the United States, the United Kingdom, or other third countries, such as eBay, Amazon, ASOS, etc., according to Newmoney. The charge will also apply to parcels arriving in Greece from warehouses that these companies have set up within EU territory.
Source: Newmoney, Καθημερινή
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