The EU approves a €3 charge on all parcels from Shein and Temu
The Spanish consumer organisation FACUA is urging the European Union to use its new €3 charge on parcels from non-EU shops, such as Shein and Temu, to pay for more safety checks and crack down on fake or unsafe products.
The EU has approved this new fee for small packages entering Europe from sellers outside the bloc. It will apply to all non-EU online shops registered in the EU’s Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) system for VAT.
EU figures show that 93% of parcels arriving from outside Europe go through this system, meaning the fee will affect most bargain online orders coming into the EU.
Brussels says the charge is needed to tackle “unfair competition”, as millions of cheap parcels enter the EU without meeting the same requirements as goods sold within Europe. The Commission also warns that these parcels often come with increased risks, including potential fraud and products that may be unsafe.
Call for tougher checks
FACUA says the money raised from the new fee should be used to increase inspections at borders and in the market, helping to stop dangerous or non-compliant products from being sold in Europe.
The group argues that more investment in checks is the best way to protect shoppers, detect fraud by overseas sellers, and ensure that items sold online meet EU safety standards.
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