Regulatory & Industry Changes

All imports would face customs duties regardless of value, currently, only VAT applies to goods under €150. This would increase costs for low-value cross-border shipments and require more detailed customs declarations for every order. Brands already using DDP with accurate HS classification will be best positioned. Swap's compliance engine is built to adapt to these regulatory changes.

Under new EU proposals, online platforms must submit detailed product data to customs before goods enter the EU. Platforms assume responsibility for product compliance rather than treating individual consumers as importers. This means Amazon, eBay, and similar marketplaces become liable for product safety, creating stricter requirements for sellers listing on these platforms.

When Amazon deems reverse transport economically inefficient, it refunds the customer without requiring the product back. The seller absorbs the full cost: product value, original shipping, duties paid, and the refund. This disproportionately affects cross-border sellers where return costs are highest. Understanding per-market return economics is critical for marketplace pricing.

The EU has proposed a new centralised customs authority (EUCA) to screen goods pre-shipment and provide enforcement recommendations. If implemented, this would standardise customs processing across EU member states and could speed up clearance for compliant shipments while increasing scrutiny on non-compliant ones. Sellers should prepare by ensuring HS classification and documentation accuracy.