Customs processes far fewer individual packages following import duties, workload remains high
Dutch customs report a sharp decline in individual e-commerce parcels since the implementation of a 3-euro import levy, as retailers increasingly shift to bulk shipping. While this transition facilitates more efficient inspections, customs officials state that the overall volume of goods and the associated high workload persist.
The Dutch customs agency has observed a significant decrease in the processing of individual e-commerce parcels from outside the European Union following the introduction of a 3-euro import duty on July 1. Many retailers, particularly those based in China, have shifted their logistics strategies by importing goods in bulk to EU warehouses to avoid the administrative burden of individual shipments. Despite this shift, customs officials report that the overall workload remains high as they continue to struggle with a massive volume of incoming goods, 60 percent of which fail to meet European safety standards.
Bulk shipments are easier for customs to inspect, as agents can perform representative sampling on large quantities of identical items. The agency expects further changes in November when an additional 2-euro handling fee per product category will be implemented as part of EU customs reforms. The revenue generated from this new fee is intended to help the agency invest in better technology and personnel training to manage the ongoing, high-pressure workload.
Based on reporting by nu. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
