# EU Council Approves Customs Reform: Greater Responsibility for Platforms and Traders **Category:** Customs | **Source:** Rat der Europäischen Union | **Published:** 2026-09-17 | **Updated:** 2026-09-27 **Tags:** EU-Zollreform, EU-Zollkodex, Schweizer Exporteure, Onlinehandel, E-Commerce, Zollvertreter, EU Customs Data Hub, Kleinsendungen, Importeur, Zollabwicklung, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Seefracht, Zoll > EU customs reform brings new obligations for online retailers and platforms. Swiss exporters must review data, representation, and costs for EU shipments. --- The Council of the European Union gave its final approval to the major customs reform on 3 September 2026. The procedure is not yet completely concluded. The European Parliament must confirm the negotiated text in a second reading. The vote is scheduled for 16 September. An important point concerns online commerce. Platforms and sellers that sell goods from a non-EU country directly to private customers in the EU are to be treated more strongly like importers for customs purposes. This means they bear greater responsibility for correct data, customs payments, and compliance with EU regulations. The end customer should not have to resolve these issues upon delivery. This is relevant for Swiss traders if they ship goods directly to customers in Germany, France, Italy, or other EU countries. They must verify who acts as the importer upon entry and who represents them within the EU. Cooperation with parcel services, platforms, and customs agents should also be clearly regulated in contracts. Additionally, a new EU-wide processing fee for small packages from online commerce is coming. It is scheduled to start no later than 1 November 2026. The EU Commission must still determine the exact amount. The fee is not the existing transitional tariff of 3 euros. This has been levied since 1 July 2026 on shipments under 150 euros per product category contained. The major technical changes will come later. The new EU customs authority based in Lille is to commence operations in 2027. The common customs data hub will be mandatory for online commerce from 1 July 2028. For all other traders, the obligation is scheduled to begin on 1 March 2034. The data hub is intended to gradually replace today's national systems. Traders will need to submit their information only once. At the same time, customs authorities can better compare goods flows and more quickly identify shipments presenting risks. --- For dispatchers, the reform does not initially mean a complete overnight changeover. However, for B2C shipments, i.e. deliveries directly to private customers, it should already be checked who bears the customs duties, fees and missing documentation costs. Swiss shippers should verify their master data. This includes the HS tariff number, goods value, country of origin and product safety information. In future, errors can increasingly remain the responsibility of the merchant, the platform or the appointed representative. Customs agents must clearly define the role in which they act and what responsibility they assume. Particularly in the case of indirect representation, additional obligations and liability risks can arise. A careful review of mandates, powers of attorney and contracts is worthwhile here. In short: The new processing fee comes quickly, while the major technical changeover follows in several stages. --- The EU Council approved its position on customs reform definitively on 3 September 2026. The second reading in the European Parliament was still pending on 3 September. The vote in the EU Parliament is scheduled for 16 September 2026. The EU Customs Authority is to be headquartered in Lille, France. The new authority is to commence operations in 2027. The EU Customs Data Hub will become mandatory for online commerce on 1 July 2028. The data hub will be compulsory for all merchants as of 1 March 2034. The processing fee for small consignments is to start no later than 1 November 2026. The EU Commission must still determine the amount of this fee. The transitional tariff of 3 euros on shipments under 150 euros has been in effect since 1 July 2026 and is a separate charge. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [Switzerland](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ch) - [Lithuania](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/lt) - [Belgium](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/be) - [Luxembourg](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/lu) - [Slovenia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/si) - [Croatia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/hr) - [Ireland](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ie) - [Romania](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ro) - [Germany](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/de) - [France](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/fr) - [Italy](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/it) - [Netherlands](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/nl) - [Spain](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/es) - [Austria](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/at) - [Poland](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/pl) - [Czechia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/cz) - [Sweden](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/se) - [Denmark](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/dk) - [Portugal](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/pt) - [Hungary](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/hu) - [Bulgaria](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/bg) - [Slovakia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/sk) - [Cyprus](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/cy) - [Estonia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ee) - [Greece](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/gr) - [Latvia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/lv) - [Malta](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/mt) - [Finland](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/fi) ### Glossary - [Authorized Economic Operator (AEO)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/authorized-economic-operator-aeo) - [Parcel](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/parcel) - [E-commerce](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/e-commerce) - [Import](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/import) - [Exporter](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/exporter) - [Importer](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/importer-2) - [Shipment](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/shipment) - [Goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/goods) - [Customs duty](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-duty) - [Customs clearance](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-clearance-5) - [Customs Agent](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-agent) - [Customs tariff number](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-tariff-number-2) - [Import Customs Duty](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/import-customs-duty) - [Customs Value Declaration](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-value-declaration) - [customs payment](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-payment) - [delivery](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/delivery-2) - [Customs Reform](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-reform) - [Union Customs Code](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/union-customs-code) - [Customs authorities](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-authorities) - [Indirect customs representation](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/indirect-customs-representation) - [Customs representation](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-representation) - [Low-value consignment](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/low-value-consignment) - [Country of origin](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/country-of-origin) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/eu-rat-billigt-zollreform-mehr-verantwortung-fuer-plattformen-und-haendler-20260915175143](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/eu-rat-billigt-zollreform-mehr-verantwortung-fuer-plattformen-und-haendler-20260915175143)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/eu-rat-billigt-zollreform-mehr-verantwortung-fuer-plattformen-und-haendler-20260915175143](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/eu-rat-billigt-zollreform-mehr-verantwortung-fuer-plattformen-und-haendler-20260915175143)*