Excerpt from Global Compliance News Article, Published on July 30, 2025
The European Union has taken a decisive step to tighten regulations around e-commerce and imports, focusing on protecting consumers, ensuring product safety, and creating fair competition. On 9 July 2025, the European Parliament adopted a resolution demanding major reforms including the swift adoption of the Digital Product Passport (DPP), reform of customs rules under the Union Customs Code (UCC), and the removal of the EUR 150 customs duty exemption on low-value shipments.
The volume of e-commerce parcels entering the EU under the current duty exemption has nearly doubled within a year, reaching 4.6 billion parcels in 2024, with a large share coming from China. This surge has allowed many unsafe and illegal products to slip through checks due to their small, individual parcel format. The resolution cites enforcement fragmentation and lack of resources as key challenges hampering effective oversight despite existing legal frameworks like the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR).
The DPP plays a central role in the EU’s strategy by improving transparency and traceability for imported goods, helping regulators pre-screen high-risk products such as toys, cosmetics, and electronics. Moreover, the resolution addresses manipulative online sales tactics known as “dark patterns” and calls for joint enforcement actions and better consumer information.
Customs reforms include establishing the EU Customs Authority and a Customs Data Hub integrating the DPP for real-time data sharing. It also introduces the concept of the ‘deemed importer’ to hold platforms accountable and proposes a handling fee on e-commerce parcels to deter fraud and fund enforcement.
Businesses operating in or selling to the European Union should prepare for these changes, which aim to level the playing field for EU sellers and enhance product safety while increasing liability for non-EU platforms. These measures reflect the EU’s broader commitment to sustainable, safe, and fair e-commerce.
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