Nicosia, Cyprus. Consumers in Cyprus purchasing goods from outside the European Union will face a temporary flat-fee duty of €3 per item from July 1, 2026, under guidance issued by the European Commission and the Customs Department.
The measure applies to low-value consignments of up to €150 from non-EU countries and ends the duty exemption that remains in place until June 30, 2026.
Temporary duty measure
The €3 charge will remain in effect until July 1, 2028. After that date, standard customs duties will apply according to the specific category of the goods.
Part of wider EU customs reform
The measure is part of the EU’s Customs Reform, which is intended to modernise customs procedures and promote fairness, safety, and sustainability across the e-commerce sector.
The European Commission said evidence indicates that a substantial share of low-value e-commerce imports has historically failed to meet EU safety and compliance standards. It said this poses risks to consumers and undermines fair competition for local retailers.
End of duty exemption
According to the commission, the duty-free rule had originally been introduced to avoid excessive administrative burdens. However, it said the digitalisation of customs procedures now means electronic data is available for all imported goods, making the previous exemption no longer justified and out of step with market conditions.
Inspection findings across the EU
In 2025, nearly 5.9 billion low-value items were shipped directly from third countries to consumers in the EU without incurring customs duties.
Targeted inspections carried out across the 27 EU member states during 2025 on products including cosmetics, toys, and electronics found that more than 60 per cent of checked items did not meet EU standards because of missing safety documentation, forbidden ingredients, or incorrect labelling.
Objective of the new charge
The commission said the new €3 duty is intended to create equal conditions for businesses, ensuring that all companies bringing goods into the EU market are subject to duties and held to the same standards as local enterprises.