EU customs changes

Effective July 1, 2026, the European Union (EU) introduced new customs rules, under the EU Customs Reform, that will be implemented in a phased way. These changes introduced new customs duties and placed additional requirements on businesses.

To help you get ready for and navigate these changes confidently, we have prepared everything you need to know when shipping to or receiving goods in the EU customs territory.

The changes brought in a mandatory requirement to submit provide Product Identifiers (PIDS) for each item on a shipping application or commercial invoice. This applies for all distance sale B2C shipments imported into the EU, regardless of value, and is mandatory from November 1, 2026.

Following guidance from the European Union authorities, we strongly recommend adding PIDs now, to help ensure smooth clearance for shipments arriving in the EU, in preparation for November 1 enforcement.

You can do this by using our online solutions, described in the Resources and Tools section below.

In addition to all the requirements mentioned, providing both the shipper’s and recipient's email addresses is also critical. The shipper’s email allows us to reach you if PIDs are missing or inaccurate, while the recipient’s email can help support smooth delivery and timely payment of duties, taxes, and any FedEx ancillary fees due at the time of import.

Before July 1, 2026, shipments with an intrinsic value not exceeding €150 could enter the EU customs territory without paying import duty under what is known as “de minimis”, an exemption from duty being applied.

Now, for shipments with an intrinsic value not exceeding €150, a €3 customs duty is applied per each line of the customs import declaration (which can contain one or more items, depending on the tariff classification).

Separately, the European Commission has also proposed a new EU-wide handling fee (Union handling fee) on low-value goods, expected to be introduced by November 1, 2026.

We will share updates as soon as more information becomes available.

In addition to the new customs duty scheme, FedEx is introducing some pricing updates on its clearance ancillary fees to offset the additional operational and customs clearance activities required as more shipments become subject to EU customs processing.

Here's a breakdown to help you understand the full cost impact:

NOTE: The tables above provide an overview of potential charges and is not intended to represent a sample cost calculation. Import duties and other taxes (such as VAT) are imposed by the EU and governmental authorities, while FedEx charges only Disbursement Fee and Inbound Processing Fee. Actual landed costs will vary depending on factors such as destination-country VAT rates, applicable waivers or discounts, shipment characteristics, and other variables, meaning not all charges shown will apply to every shipment.

To ensure smooth customs clearance and avoid delays, FedEx provides tools to help you submit the following information in the form of a commercial invoice:

Our Electronic Trade Documents (ETD) system guides you through providing this information correctly the first time.