Reform customs system in the European Union has reached a major milestone. The Council and the European Parliament have reached a political agreement on the biggest change since the creation of the Customs Union in 1968. With this, the EU is taking a solid step towards a more modern, digital and strictly controlled customs system.
The reform of the customs system is mainly aimed at better handling growing trade volumes, especially due to the explosion of e-commerce. At the same time, the EU wants to strengthen external border controls and better respond to geopolitical developments.
One of the key components of the reform customs system is the introduction of the EU Customs Data Hub. This will be a central digital environment where companies will only have to submit their customs data once for all member states.
This should ensure more efficient processes, better risk analysis and more clarity for businesses. Implementation will start in phases from 1 July 2028, starting with e-commerce, and should be fully operational by 2034 at the latest.
There will also be a new European customs authority in Lille. This organisation will support national customs in controls, risk analysis and crisis management.
EU customs process hundreds of millions of declarations every year, making digitisation essential to reduce delays and errors.
For e-commerce, the reform customs system brings clear changes. From November 2026, an EU-wide handling fee will be introduced for small consignments. In addition, online platforms and sellers will become responsible for customs obligations, rather than the consumer.
This should ensure fairer competition and better compliance with European rules. Bulk imports will be encouraged, giving e-commerce fewer exemptions compared to traditional import flows.
For businesses, this means adapting processes and putting more emphasis on correct and complete customs declarations.
The reform customs regime also introduces a new status: 'trust and check traders'. This will give more flexibility to businesses meeting high standards and in some cases allow them to release goods themselves.
The existing AEO status will be maintained, which means trusted traders will keep their benefits. The temporary storage period of 90 days also remains, which is beneficial for logistics planning.
For logistics service providers and forwarders, important processes remain intact. They can continue to place goods under a regime and SMEs retain access to customs facilities through representatives.
The agreement is seen by the industry as a clear improvement on previous proposals. Trade associations, including Fenex, have been actively working to maintain workable solutions.
For companies active in international trade, it is important to follow these developments closely. You can read more about customs processes and regulations on the customs page.
In the coming months, the agreement will be further developed into concrete legislation. It is expected to be formally adopted around the summer. After that, the phased implementation will start, which will dramatically change European logistics in the coming years.