A new EU rule is about to hit something many Europeans do almost without thinking: late-night online shopping from cheap global platforms.
From 1 July, small parcels arriving from outside the EU will carry an extra €3 fee if the goods are worth up to €150. That includes orders shipped from countries like China and the United States, Sweden Herald reports.
The measure is aimed at the huge volume of low-cost items ordered online, especially from fast-growing platforms such as Temu and Shein.
The fee is charged per type of product in a shipment. So if a single order contains different categories of items, the cost can stack up.
Timing is also important. Even if an order is placed before 1 July, the fee can still apply if the package is processed in the EU after the deadline.
Consumers will also need to pay attention to where items are actually shipped from. A website may look European, but the goods can still come from outside the EU, triggering the charge.
Officials say the goal is to improve safety and ensure imported products meet EU standards on chemicals and consumer protection.
The fee will not be refunded if a buyer returns a product, something authorities say may reduce impulse buying.
EU finance ministers approved the system last year as part of a wider push to regulate cross-border e-commerce and limit the flood of cheap imports into Europe.
