If you purchase goods from China and ship them to the EU, you've probably already noticed the increasing stringency of customs this year. It's not just a single policy changing; the entire import system is being upgraded. From before the goods are even loaded onto the ship, to customs clearance, tax payment, and product compliance, every step is different.
Today, I'll outline the most important points to help you avoid potential pitfalls.
ICS2: Goods Must Undergo "Security Check" Before Loading
The EU will fully implement ICS2 (Import Control System 2) in 2026. Simply put, it's a pre-entry security check-regardless of whether you're shipping by sea, air, rail, or truck, detailed cargo information must be submitted to EU customs before the goods are even loaded.
Key Timelines:
• Sea Freight: Fully implemented from February 2026
• Rail Freight: Implemented from June 1, 2026
• Air Freight: Already implemented; declaration must be completed 4 hours before loading
• Road Freight: Already implemented in April 2025
Specific Requirements:
• Sea freight must complete the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) 24 hours before loading.
• Air freight must complete the declaration 4 hours before loading.
• The system uses AI to automatically verify 24 data items; missing or incorrect entries will result in immediate interception of the goods.
• Non-compliant shipments will be fined €500 to €5000.
The Most Important Changes for You:
• HS codes must be accurate to at least 6 digits; 2- or 4-digit broad category codes are not allowed.
• Product names cannot use vague terms like "accessories," "samples," or "general cargo." The product must be clearly stated, such as "stainless steel screws" or "plastic storage boxes."
• The consignor and consignee must have a complete EORI number. From 2026 onwards, there will be no EORI number; goods will be directly returned.
• Freight forwarder's House B/L and shipping company's Master B/L must be declared separately. In the case of LCL (Less than Container Load) shipments, each consignee must submit an independent House B/L ENS-if there are 15 shipments in a 40-foot container, 15 independent declarations are required. If any information is incorrect in any one shipment, the entire container will be unable to proceed.
My advice: Confirm with your Chinese suppliers whether the product names and HS codes on their invoices and packing lists are filled in as required. Many domestic factories are accustomed to using broad terms like "accessories" or "daily necessities," which will now result in direct order rejection by the EU system.
Tax Exemption Cancelled: The "Tax-Free Era" for Small Parcels is Over
From July 1, 2026, the EU officially cancels the tariff exemption for low-value parcels under €150. This policy will have the greatest impact on e-commerce sellers, but those engaged in traditional trade should also be aware.
Here's how it will change:
• During the transition period (July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2028), parcels valued at €150 or less will be subject to a fixed tariff of €3 per tariff category.
• If a parcel contains goods under three different tariff categories, the tariff will be €3 x 3 = €9.
• After July 1, 2028, the fixed €3 tariff will be abolished, replaced by five separate tariff rates: 0%, 5%, 8%, 12%, and 17%.
Regarding VAT: The previous rule exempting goods under €22 from VAT has been abolished; now all goods are subject to VAT.
Data for reference: In 2024, the EU imported 4.6 billion e-commerce parcels under €150, 91% of which came from China. This equates to 12 million small parcels entering the EU daily. With the elimination of the tax exemption policy, the low-price, low-profit, high-volume model is essentially no longer viable.
Our advice: If you are doing e-commerce retail in the EU, we recommend considering a model of "full container sea freight + overseas warehouse drop shipping." The cost advantage of direct mail parcels is gone.
Contact me to learn about shipping from China to EU: sales09@senghorlogistics.com
Mandatory EPR Compliance: Packaging, Batteries, and Electronic Products are the First to be Affected
EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) requires you to be responsible for the recycling and disposal of your products after disposal. Simply put: for products you sell in the EU, you must register and pay for the recycling and disposal of packaging, batteries, and electronic components.
Key Timelines for 2026:
• Battery Regulations: Effective August 2025. Selling products containing batteries requires separate EPR registration in each sales country; non-compliant products will be immediately removed from shelves.
• Packaging Regulations (PPWR): Applicable from August 12, 2026.
• Independent registration required in each sales country.
Affected Categories: Packaging materials, electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, single-use plastics, textiles, etc.
Our Advice: If you sell in countries like Germany, France, and Spain, first confirm whether you have completed EPR registration. Without a registration number, goods will not clear customs at the destination port.
My shipping service story from China to Spain:
Arrange Shipping From China To Spain For A Purchasing Agent: Trust Is More Important Than Price
REACH Continues to Expand: Stricter Controls on Chemicals
REACH is the EU regulation governing the registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals. In 2026, the REACH control list expanded further.
The SVHC candidate list has increased to 253 items. In February 2026, ECHA added n-hexane and bisphenol AF.
Other updates in 2026:
• 2,4-dinitrotoluene was added as the 83rd controlled substance in April 2026, and will officially take effect in May 2027.
• Proposed restrictions on hydrogenated terphenyls are expected to be passed in the fourth quarter of 2026.
• The EU launched a public consultation to restrict carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reproductive toxic substances in childcare products.
Our advice: If you are sourcing products involving chemicals, coatings, adhesives, electronic components, etc., ask your suppliers to provide the latest REACH compliance declaration. The SVHC list is updated twice a year; don't assume that compliance last year means compliance this year.
Here are some suggestions to summarize:
1). Obtain accurate HS codes and product names from suppliers. Avoid using terms like "accessories" or "general goods." The invoice, bill of lading, and ENS must all match.
2). Allow more time for customs clearance. Customs inspection rates have increased significantly, resulting in longer clearance times after arrival. Take this factor into account when scheduling shipping.
3). Ensure all product compliance documents are complete. Prepare necessary documents like CE, EPR, and REACH in advance. Don't wait until the goods arrive at customs to discover missing documents.
4). If you're doing e-commerce, seriously consider overseas warehousing. The tax-free advantage of direct mail parcels is gone; full container sea freight combined with overseas warehousing may be a more sustainable approach.
If you have any further questions, feel free to ask me. We handle shipments to the EU daily, and we're still learning and adapting to these new regulations.
Contact me anytime if you need help: sales09@senghorlogistics.com
About Author
Vilien Wu, Salesperson from Shenzhen Senghor Sea & Air Logistics Co., Ltd. Deeply involved in traditional sea and air freight door-to-door services in markets such as Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia, with extensive practical experience in consolidating cargo and integrating shipments from multiple suppliers.
Since entering the industry, I've encountered many small and medium-sized importers and found that many foreign trade professionals have only a superficial understanding of logistics, with most of their experience gained through trial and error. Therefore, I decided to share some real-world shipping cases and logistics knowledge to help more foreign trade professionals avoid pitfalls in the shipping process.
Whether a shipment can be successfully shipped depends on the freight forwarder's control and predictive ability at each stage. Choosing a reliable freight forwarder is crucial, but as a foreign trade professional, having some logistics knowledge yourself allows for better judgment and selection.
Welcome to contact me anytime if you have shipping needs or logistics questions.
