EU Customs Controls Expose Safety Risks in Cross-Border E-Commerce Imports

European customs authorities are facing unprecedented pressure as the volume of goods purchased online and shipped directly to EU consumers continues to rise at an extraordinary pace. Positioned on the front line of the EU’s external borders, customs play a crucial role in ensuring that only safe, compliant products enter the single market and that fair competition is preserved.

To carry out this task effectively, customs authorities cooperate closely with national market surveillance bodies. These organisations, appointed by individual Member States, are responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with EU product safety legislation once goods are placed on the market. They include consumer safety agencies, chemical regulators and other specialised authorities.

The rapid expansion of global e-commerce has made this work increasingly complex. Since 2022, the number of small parcels entering the EU has doubled each year. In 2024 alone, approximately 4.6 billion packages arrived in the EU. Growth has continued into 2025, with a 36% increase recorded in July compared to the same month the previous year. On average, nearly 180 individual shipments now enter the EU every second.

Against this backdrop, a recent large-scale EU-wide customs control operation, carried out in cooperation with market surveillance authorities under a priority control area, revealed alarming results. The operation showed that the majority of goods shipped directly to EU consumers from non-EU countries fail to comply with European product rules and safety standards.

During the operation, customs authorities inspected 20,000 toys and small electronic devices. More than half of these products did not meet EU regulatory requirements. A subset of the goods was also subjected to laboratory testing, which confirmed that 84% of the tested items posed a safety risk to consumers.

Customs enforcement actions have increased steadily in recent years. A growing number of products are being stopped at the border and denied access to the EU market due to non-compliance or serious safety concerns. In 2024, customs authorities across the EU refused entry to an average of 13 items per million products released. However, the explosive growth of e-commerce imports is far outpacing the capacity of traditional control methods. By 2025, small consignments accounted for 97% of all shipments, making comprehensive checks increasingly difficult.

To address these challenges, the EU has already begun reforming its approach to e-commerce imports. Member States have agreed to abolish the customs duty exemption for parcels valued below €150. From 1 July 2026, this exemption will be replaced by a flat customs duty of €3 per item.

In parallel, the EU Customs Reform will fundamentally change responsibility within the supply chain. Online platforms and sellers will become key actors in ensuring compliance with customs obligations, acting as the official importers of goods sold to EU consumers. This marks a significant shift from the current system, which places much of the responsibility on individual consumers and carriers.

As a result, EU consumers will benefit from greater transparency and protection. Taxes and duties will be paid upfront, and products sold online will be expected to comply with EU environmental, safety and ethical standards before reaching the market.