Belgium to impose extra costs on small parcels from Sunday
Those ordering from outside the European Union will face a European handling fee on top of import duties.
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From Sunday, Belgium will introduce a €2 European handling fee for small parcels from outside the European Union. The fee applies per product category in a shipment and comes on top of a temporary €3 customs duty.
The new rules will apply from 1 November to small parcels entering Belgium from countries outside the European Union. According to Belgian customs, the measure is intended to cope with the rapid growth in such shipments and cover their processing costs.
The €2 is not a general surcharge per parcel, but is calculated for each different type of product in a shipment. A parcel containing several categories may therefore incur handling fees several times. Belgian postal service bpost warns that VAT and other import costs will also be charged when an order arrives.
In addition, Belgium has imposed a temporary flat-rate customs duty of €3 per product category since 1 July. That duty is part of European rules for small consignments and, according to the European Council, will apply until 1 July 2028 unless the arrangement is amended or extended.
The new costs will mainly affect orders placed through online shops outside the European Union. Belgian consumers may therefore face relatively high additional costs on cheap purchases from, for example, Asia. For Dutch consumers, this Belgian measure does not automatically change the rate charged on delivery in the Netherlands; the precise handling depends on the country where the goods enter the European Union and are cleared through customs.
Belgian business organisation UNIZO says the levy comes on top of the existing customs duty. According to the organisation, the costs can mount up when there are several product categories. Customs stresses at the same time that the arrangement is not the same as VAT: VAT and import duties remain separate obligations.
The measure forms part of a broader European debate about the large volume of cheap parcels from outside the European Union. One question in that debate is whether additional costs can improve customs controls and the competitive position of European companies. It is not yet known how much the number of orders will change as a result of the costs.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- From 1 November 2026, Belgium will introduce a €2 handling fee per product category for small parcels from outside the European Union.
- A temporary customs duty of €3 per product category has applied since 1 July 2026.
- The measures increase the costs of certain cross-border online orders.
Left
Arguments The levy can be defended as a correction to a trading model in which cheap imports and large parcel flows shift social and environmental costs onto workers, customs authorities and public services.
Values Fair working conditions, consumer protection and a level playing field for businesses.
Consequences Supporters expect less overconsumption and better enforcement, but fear that lower-income people will be hit relatively hard.
Centre
Arguments A limited charge is defensible if it demonstrably funds customs processing and is levied transparently on consumers. Implementation should remain simple and verifiable.
Values Proportionality, practicality and European cooperation.
Consequences The measure may help organise the flow of parcels, but requires evaluation to determine whether the costs do not unintentionally exceed what is necessary.
Right
Arguments Additional levies raise prices and limit consumers’ freedom of choice. The government should be cautious about imposing new costs on everyday purchases.
Values Low charges, free trade and individual freedom of choice.
Consequences Critics fear that consumers with less money will feel the price increase more strongly and that European online shops will ultimately pass on the costs.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The introduction date, amounts and method of calculation can be found in Belgian government information and at bpost. The context concerning European rules has been confirmed by the Council of the European Union.
- confirmed The Belgian €2 handling fee will come into effect on 1 November. — The Belgian government and bpost name 1 November 2026 as the start date. source
- confirmed The fee is calculated per different product category. — This is stated in information from bpost and Belgian customs. source
- confirmed The temporary €3 customs duty applies from 1 July 2026. — The Council of the European Union describes the arrangement and the period. source
Editor's note
The introduction of the €2 fee has been confirmed by the Belgian government and bpost. The precise consequences for Dutch orders depend on the place of import and customs clearance.Sources
- Persconferentie Douane: nieuwe maatregelen voor kleine pakketten — News.belgium
- A parcel from outside the EU? — bpost
- Council gives final green light to new customs duty rules for small parcels — Raad van de Europese Unie
- Pakjestaks zorgt voor pak minder goedkope import — UNIZO
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „belgië pakjes”
- Trouw — „belgië pakjes”
- RTL Nieuws — „belgië pakjes”