People in Spain buying products from Temu, Shein, AliExpress and other non-EU online retailers are being warned to expect higher costs and possible delivery delays from July 1.
It comes after the European Union introduced new customs rules, which are now coming into effect.
The Junta de Andalucia has urged consumers to be aware of the changes, which will end the customs duty exemption for goods imported from outside the EU worth less than €150.
What’s changing?
Until now, low-value goods arriving from countries outside the EU were exempt from customs duties.
From July 1, however, all imports from outside the EU will be subject to customs controls, and many will also incur additional charges.
Brussels says the reform is designed to tackle the rapid growth in low-cost online shopping, prevent customs fraud and create fairer competition for European businesses.
As a temporary measure running from July 1, 2026 until July 1, 2028, the EU will introduce a €3 customs charge for each category of item contained in a parcel with a total value of no more than €150.
Consumers could also face higher final prices on imported goods, longer delivery times due to increased customs inspections and additional customs clearance or handling fees in some cases.
What won’t be affected?
The new rules do not apply to products already stored within Spain or elsewhere in the EU.
Many items sold on platforms such as Amazon, Temu or AliExpress are dispatched from European warehouses, meaning they will not be subject to the new customs charges.
Under European Commission rules, customs duties will not be refunded if you decide to return a product.
The only exception is if the goods are proven to be defective or fail to match the terms of the sales contract.
