New European Union customs rules coming into force on 1 July will significantly change online shopping from non-EU countries, including popular platforms based in China.
The changes abolish the current customs exemption for parcels worth less than €150 entering the EU through e-commerce channels. The move is aimed at creating fairer market conditions for EU retailers and adapting customs procedures to the rapid growth of global online trade, the Croatian Chamber of Economy (HGK) said.
Under a decision adopted by the EU Council in February, a temporary flat customs fee of €3 per tariff category within a parcel will be introduced until the planned EU Customs Data Hub becomes operational in 2028.
This means that products grouped under the same tariff classification within one shipment will incur a single €3 charge. However, items classified under different tariff categories will each be charged separately.
Maja Buljan, adviser in the Customs Administration’s Customs System Sector, explained to HRT the system with an example.
If a customer orders two T-shirts, both can be declared under the same tariff category and charged a single €3 customs fee. However, if the order includes a T-shirt and a mobile phone case, the products must be declared separately, resulting in a total customs charge of €6.
The customs fee will not be paid during the online purchase process itself. Instead, consumers will pay the charge when accepting delivery of the parcel, together with any costs charged by postal or courier operators.
The Croatian Chamber of Economy also confirmed that the €3 customs charge will not be refunded if goods are returned.
The new measures are intended to reduce unfair competition for EU-based retailers, limit potential abuses and improve the safety of products entering the European market from distant suppliers.
Research conducted by HGK during May suggests the changes could significantly affect consumer behaviour in Croatia.
According to the survey, 79.5 per cent of respondents had purchased products from online stores outside the EU within the last three months. Most buyers ordered between three and five items, with sports equipment, clothing and footwear among the most common purchases.
Food supplements and toys also represented a notable share of purchases, categories where product quality and safety checks are particularly important.
Following the introduction of the new customs rules, 52.8 per cent of respondents said they plan to stop buying products from non-EU countries altogether, while others said they would reduce such purchases.
HGK said the findings show that additional costs and administrative procedures are likely to influence consumer habits and could redirect some spending back towards EU-based retailers.
Maja Bogović, Director of HGK’s Trade Sector, said that although 55.2 per cent of shoppers check where an online retailer is based, there is still room to improve consumer awareness and responsible purchasing behaviour.
She highlighted safety concerns, noting that 42.4 per cent of respondents do not check safety instructions or CE markings confirming compliance with EU standards.
HGK said it will continue monitoring market trends and advocating solutions that ensure equal business conditions for Croatian and European retailers while also protecting consumers and promoting safer shopping practices.
The Chamber also reminded retailers of upcoming changes to Croatia’s Consumer Protection Act relating to distance selling.
Under the amendments, online traders will be required to introduce a simple one-click contract cancellation option, often referred to as a cancellation “button”, allowing consumers to terminate contracts in the same way they were concluded online.
Ivana Radan Ban, Head of the Consumer Legislation Department at the Ministry of Economy, said the measure is intended to guarantee consumers’ right to withdraw from contracts more effectively, although it will require technical adjustments by retailers.
The new requirement comes into effect on 19 June, by which time online retailers are expected to adapt their websites.
HGK also highlighted the scale of growth in online imports into the EU. Since 2022, the number of small parcels entering the EU market has doubled annually. In 2024 alone, 4.6 billion such parcels arrived in the EU, with 91 per cent originating from China.
Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM) data shows that more than 19 million parcels were recorded in Croatia during the final quarter of 2025, the highest quarterly figure on record and 15.4 per cent higher than at the end of 2024. Parcels accounted for almost 27 per cent of all postal services last year.