{"id":5596,"date":"2026-01-16T11:13:59","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T10:13:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vicasso.net\/?p=5596"},"modified":"2026-01-16T11:22:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T10:22:53","slug":"international-e-commerce-a-challenge-for-the-eu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vicasso.net\/en\/news-about-the-sector\/international-e-commerce-a-challenge-for-the-eu\/","title":{"rendered":"International e-commerce: a challenge for the EU"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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International e-commerce and customs control: a growing challenge for the European Union<\/strong><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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E-commerce has completely changed the way companies and individuals shop. Today, any European consumer can purchase a product in a few seconds and receive it directly from a country outside the European Union. However, behind this convenience lies a major logistical, customs and security challenge.<\/strong> <\/p>

According to information published by the European Union’<\/strong>s Directorate General for Taxation and Customs Union (TAXUD)<\/strong>, the majority of products from international e-commerce do not meet the safety and compliance standards required in the EU.<\/strong><\/p>

– Customs: the European market’s first line of defense<\/strong><\/p>

Customs authorities play an essential role at Europe’s borders. They are responsible for managing and controlling the huge volume of goods arriving every day from third countries, with three key objectives: <\/p>

– Ensure<\/span> that only safe products reach the final consumer
–<\/span> Ensure compliance with European regulations
–<\/span> Protect fair competition in the Single Market<\/p>

This work is carried out in coordination with national market surveillance authorities, which verify the conformity of products once they have entered the EU.<\/p>

– Unprecedented shipment volume<\/strong><\/p>

The figures reflect the magnitude of the challenge:<\/p>

– Since<\/span> 2022, the number of small parcels has doubled every year
–<\/span> In 2024, 4.6 billion shipments<\/strong> were imported
–<\/span> In 2025, small shipments accounted for 97 % of the total<\/strong>
–<\/span> About 180 direct shipments<\/strong> enter the EU every second<\/p>

This accelerated growth has outstripped the capacity of traditional customs control methods.<\/p>

– Worrying results in controls<\/strong><\/p>

A recent large-scale customs control operation in the EU, carried out within the framework of the Priority Control Areas (PCA), yielded alarming data:<\/p>

– More than 20,000 toys and small electronic devices<\/strong>were<\/span> inspected
–<\/span> More than 50%<\/strong> did not comply with European regulations
–<\/span> After laboratory analysis, 84%<\/strong> of the products tested were considered hazardous.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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These results confirm a worrying reality: many products purchased online from third countries do not offer minimum security guarantees.<\/strong><\/p>

European customs are rejecting an increasing number of products each year for non-compliance or serious risk. In 2024, an average of 13 items<\/strong> were refused entry for every million products cleared.<\/strong> <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Even so, the growth rate of e-commerce continues to outstrip the current control capacity, making structural changes necessary.<\/p>

– EU Customs Reform: A Key Change<\/strong><\/p>

To respond to this challenge, the EU has launched a far-reaching reform of the customs system that includes:<\/p>

– The<\/span> elimination of duty exemption for shipments under \u20ac150<\/strong>
–<\/span> The introduction of a single customs duty of \u20ac3 per item<\/strong>, applicable as of July 1, 2026<\/strong>
–<\/span> The consideration of online platforms and sellers as official importers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

This change represents a major shift of responsibility from the consumer and carriers to those who market the products.<\/p>

– A new scenario for the logistics sector<\/strong><\/p>

For logistics operators and international trading companies, this transformation implies:<\/p>

– Increased<\/span> relevance of regulatory compliance
–<\/span> More added value in professional customs management
–<\/span> Opportunities to differentiate against low control models
–<\/span> Increased security and confidence for the end consumer<\/p>

At Vicasso International<\/strong> we are committed to international e-commerce based on solid and transparent customs processes, aligned with European regulations, guaranteeing market security and the efficiency of the logistics chain, and offering our clients updated and specialized advice.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n

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