The European Union's €3 fee on low-value ecommerce parcels has led to a significant change in import procedures, with Belgium recording a 50% year-on-year decline in simplified customs declarations for such shipments. Kristian Vanderwaeren, general administrator of Customs and Excise at Belgium's Federal Public Service Finance, shared these findings at the EU CBEC ecommerce forum. The fee applies to all business-to-consumer shipments from outside the EU valued below €150, and is charged per customs item rather than per parcel. This means, for example, that two pairs of jeans under the same customs classification incur one €3 charge, while jeans, sneakers, and earrings classified separately could attract three charges. This distinction adds complexity for customs authorities, as they must check for attempts to manipulate declarations to avoid the fee.
Since the fee took effect on 1 July, early data indicates it is achieving its goal of steering more ecommerce traffic into the standard customs process. Comparing July with the same month last year, Belgian Customs saw a roughly 50% drop in low-value H7 declarations—the simplified form for consignments up to €150—while standard H1 declarations increased by about 3 million. However, Vanderwaeren cautioned against comparing June with July, as ecommerce volumes had surged ahead of the new regulation due to stockpiling. The average value of H7 shipments also rose from about €5 to €10 in July and August, partly because Chinese companies encouraged larger purchases and bundled multiple products into single shipments.
Karlheinz Kadner, head of sector at the EC Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union, welcomed the shift from H7 to H1 declarations, noting that the standard process provides customs with more information and greater scope for checks. "We see that the measure has had an effect," he said. Belgian customs collected €223 million in duty revenue during the period covered by the presentation, and Vanderwaeren estimated that if current trends continue, collections could reach €800-€900 million by year-end. He stressed, however, that revenue was not the primary objective; counterfeiting, product safety, and public health were the main concerns. Despite inspecting only 0.007% of shipments, Belgian customs identified around 60,000 non-compliant consignments, and Vanderwaeren noted the goal is to increase inspections.
The commission is pushing for more inspections, with Kadner stating that current levels are insufficient. Vanderwaeren highlighted that data is a game-changer, advocating for customs risk analysis to be carried out at the EU level rather than nationally. He also backed the EC's proposed product identification system, which would allow authorities to trace products and repeat offenders more effectively. "If a non-compliant company is sending stuff to us again, we know it and we can block it," he said. This system, once implemented, is seen as crucial for reducing the high rate of non-compliance in cross-border trade.
For importers and exporters, these developments underscore the importance of accurate customs declarations and compliance with EU regulations. The shift to standard declarations means more detailed information is required, which could increase administrative burdens but also enhance supply chain transparency. As the EU continues to tighten its approach to low-value imports, businesses engaged in China sourcing and global ecommerce should prepare for stricter scrutiny and consider working with a sourcing agent or customs expert to navigate the evolving landscape.