04-07-2026, 09:33 AM
You may want to bookmark the URL at the bottom of this thread and check in from time to time. Canada has just added 11 EU countries to it's suspended acceptance list.
Why?
On 1 July 2026, the European Union abolished its customs-duty exemption for low-value commercial shipments entering the EU from outside the bloc. Goods purchased through distance sales and sent in consignments valued at €150 or less are now subject to a temporary flat customs duty of €3 for each distinct tariff classification represented in the shipment, in addition to any applicable VAT.
The phrase “€3 per item” is potentially misleading. It does not necessarily mean €3 for every physical object. Five identical T-shirts, for example, constitute one tariff category and attract €3; T-shirts and a watch fall under two classifications and attract €6. The seller, importer or customs declarant is normally responsible for declaring and paying the duty. This is a customs duty, not the separate EU parcel-handling fee that remains under discussion.
The EU says that almost 5.9 billion low-value items were shipped directly to EU consumers from non-EU countries during 2025. It argues that the former exemption had become unsuitable for the enormous volume of modern e-commerce, encouraged undervaluation and false declarations, and placed EU businesses at a disadvantage. The change is also intended to improve product traceability and the interception of unsafe or non-compliant goods. The rules apply to imports from all non-EU countries rather than being directed specifically at Canada or China.
The €3 arrangement is intended as an interim measure. It is scheduled to remain in place until 1 July 2028, when the EU expects its new Customs Data Hub for e-commerce to become operational. Low-value imports will then become subject to the normal customs tariff, calculated according to such factors as the nature, classification and origin of the goods. The interim arrangement may be extended if the new system is not ready.
Canada Post has now responded by temporarily suspending acceptance for the following 11 EU destinations:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain.
Canada Post says the new system requires both payment of the duty and more detailed electronic information at the individual-item level. It will continue accepting shipments to the other 16 EU members where Delivered Duties Unpaid ... DDU arrangements remain operationally feasible:
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.
Under a DDU arrangement, the relevant charges are dealt with at destination rather than being prepaid by the Canadian sender. Canada Post says it is working on compliant solutions for the suspended destinations but has given no date for restoration of service.
There is an important correction to the original Canadian Press/CBC report. That story listed 12 countries, including Italy. Canada Post’s current service notice, dated yesterday July 3 lists only 11 suspended EU destinations and now places Italy among the countries to which service remains available. Its accompanying service table was current at 11 a.m. Eastern time on 3 July.
One further wrinkle may be of particular interest to collectors. The EU measure itself concerns imported goods sold at a distance, not ordinary written correspondence. Canada Post’s operational notice, however, says that it is not accepting “mail and parcels” for the suspended destinations, and its service table lists those countries as entirely suspended rather than merely withdrawing parcel products. Thus, at least according to the current published notice, the interruption appears to include ordinary Letter-post as well as parcels and packets ... even though the underlying customs change concerns goods.
Canada Post advises customers to check its international service-alert page for changes, since destinations may be restored as suitable customs and payment arrangements are introduced.
As for me, I buy things ... but if you sell stamps to Europe this might be a bit of a bother, eh?
Canada Post Delivery Alerts: www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/our-company/news-and-media/service-alerts.page
Cheers, Hugh
Why?
On 1 July 2026, the European Union abolished its customs-duty exemption for low-value commercial shipments entering the EU from outside the bloc. Goods purchased through distance sales and sent in consignments valued at €150 or less are now subject to a temporary flat customs duty of €3 for each distinct tariff classification represented in the shipment, in addition to any applicable VAT.
The phrase “€3 per item” is potentially misleading. It does not necessarily mean €3 for every physical object. Five identical T-shirts, for example, constitute one tariff category and attract €3; T-shirts and a watch fall under two classifications and attract €6. The seller, importer or customs declarant is normally responsible for declaring and paying the duty. This is a customs duty, not the separate EU parcel-handling fee that remains under discussion.
The EU says that almost 5.9 billion low-value items were shipped directly to EU consumers from non-EU countries during 2025. It argues that the former exemption had become unsuitable for the enormous volume of modern e-commerce, encouraged undervaluation and false declarations, and placed EU businesses at a disadvantage. The change is also intended to improve product traceability and the interception of unsafe or non-compliant goods. The rules apply to imports from all non-EU countries rather than being directed specifically at Canada or China.
The €3 arrangement is intended as an interim measure. It is scheduled to remain in place until 1 July 2028, when the EU expects its new Customs Data Hub for e-commerce to become operational. Low-value imports will then become subject to the normal customs tariff, calculated according to such factors as the nature, classification and origin of the goods. The interim arrangement may be extended if the new system is not ready.
Canada Post has now responded by temporarily suspending acceptance for the following 11 EU destinations:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain.
Canada Post says the new system requires both payment of the duty and more detailed electronic information at the individual-item level. It will continue accepting shipments to the other 16 EU members where Delivered Duties Unpaid ... DDU arrangements remain operationally feasible:
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.
Under a DDU arrangement, the relevant charges are dealt with at destination rather than being prepaid by the Canadian sender. Canada Post says it is working on compliant solutions for the suspended destinations but has given no date for restoration of service.
There is an important correction to the original Canadian Press/CBC report. That story listed 12 countries, including Italy. Canada Post’s current service notice, dated yesterday July 3 lists only 11 suspended EU destinations and now places Italy among the countries to which service remains available. Its accompanying service table was current at 11 a.m. Eastern time on 3 July.
One further wrinkle may be of particular interest to collectors. The EU measure itself concerns imported goods sold at a distance, not ordinary written correspondence. Canada Post’s operational notice, however, says that it is not accepting “mail and parcels” for the suspended destinations, and its service table lists those countries as entirely suspended rather than merely withdrawing parcel products. Thus, at least according to the current published notice, the interruption appears to include ordinary Letter-post as well as parcels and packets ... even though the underlying customs change concerns goods.
Canada Post advises customers to check its international service-alert page for changes, since destinations may be restored as suitable customs and payment arrangements are introduced.
As for me, I buy things ... but if you sell stamps to Europe this might be a bit of a bother, eh?
Canada Post Delivery Alerts: www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/our-company/news-and-media/service-alerts.page
Cheers, Hugh
Hugh MacDonald, Wolfe Island
Member: BNAPS. PHSC, MPHS, FPHS, AMGCC, CSS
Auxiliary Markings Club, Postal Stationery Society, British Postmark Society,
Civil Censorship Study Group
ArGe Deutsche Feldpost: 1914-1918 e.V.
Member: BNAPS. PHSC, MPHS, FPHS, AMGCC, CSS
Auxiliary Markings Club, Postal Stationery Society, British Postmark Society,
Civil Censorship Study Group
ArGe Deutsche Feldpost: 1914-1918 e.V.