The European Commission is set to introduce a fee on packages from online retailers to better control the massive influx of, in some cases, counterfeit and insecure goods. The commission’s proposal, reported by the “Handelsblatt” (Wednesday edition), suggests that online retailers will be required to ensure that the products listed on their platforms are legal and comply with EU safety standards.
According to the draft, the commission is proposing that member states and the European Parliament adopt a “processing fee for electronic commerce articles” for individual packages imported into the EU. The fee aims to compensate EU customs authorities for the increased costs incurred in the proper control of these goods, which are delivered directly to consumers.
The sheer volume of these cheap packages, sent directly from Chinese or other third-party sellers to European customers, has overwhelmed customs authorities, as the commission warns in the still-secret document. Consumer protection groups and environmental agencies have complained that, as a result, controls and guarantees on European safety and environmental standards are hardly possible.