EU Customs Code Reforms
From the 1st July 2026, the EU are removing the exemption from customs duty for parcels valued at €150 or below. A €3 customs duty charge per HS code will apply to all parcels moving from businesses (like Rare Tea) outside the EU to consumers in the EU (for more information, click here to read the EU announcement).
At this moment in time, we cannot collect this at checkout and this fee will be collected directly from the consignee, either in advance of the shipment being delivered or on the doorstep.
We are actively investigating the ability for us to collect this at the checkout but it is a phenomenally complex process for a small business and it will take some time. Please read the information below extremely carefully before ordering after 1st July 2026.
What does this mean for me?
Every product we sell is assigned an HS code (a Harmonised System code, also known as commodity codes, tariff codes, or customs tariff numbers) for import/export purposes.
The new rules specify that each HS code listed in an order sent to the EU will be assigned a €3 charge.
For example:
- You order three bags of black tea which are all classified under the 090230 HS code. There will be €3 of duty to be paid for this order.
- You order three bags of black tea (classified under 090230), one bag of green tea (classified under 090210). There will be €6 of duty to be paid for this order.
- You order one bag of black tea (classified under 090230), one bag of green tea (classified under 090210), and a glass teapot (classified under 701090). There will be €9 of duty to be paid for this order.
Here's a list of our most common products and their HS codes, which you can use to work estimate your fees:
| Product Type | HS Code |
|---|---|
| Black Tea | 090230 |
| Oolong Tea | 090230 |
| Pu'er Tea | 090230 |
| Green Tea | 090210 |
| White Tea | 090210 |
| Matcha Tea | 090210 |
| Well-Being Tea | 121190 |
| Herbal Infusions | 121190 |
| Rare Tea tins (if ordered separately from the tea) | 731029 |
| Glass Teaware | 701090 |
| Ceramic Teaware | 691110 |
| Steel Teaware | 732393 |
FAQs
Why is this happening?
The EU is introducing new customs charges from non-EU countries because billions of low-value packages have been flooding the market duty-free, creating unfair competition for European businesses, raising consumer safety concerns, and enabling widespread fraud.
Because we ship from the United Kingdom (which is not in the EU) to EU countries, it is included in these changes.
Will there be further changes?
Yes, in November 2026 there is a planned EU-wide additional handling fee of €2 per parcel, although details are not available to us at this point.
How long will this last for?
The flat €3 rate is an interim measure and it will remain in effect until 1st July 2028, when the EU Customs Data Hub goes live and standard customs tariffs will apply.
What are you doing about this?
We are actively investigating all avenues to keep sending tea to Europe either with these charges pre-billed or from an EU location.
We will be disabling bundles and subscriptions to the EU because these contain multiple HS codes within one product and will attract unexpected amounts of duty despite being visible as one product to you.
Will there additional fees beyond the duty owed?
Yes, it is highly likely that the mail/courier service which carries your shipment will also bill you a fee for calculating and processing the duty payment. We are unable to let you know what this will be per shipment, because each carrier charges this differently per service and per country, with courier services (such as FedEx) generally charging more than mail services (such as Deutsche Post).
Some countries have also introduced their own fees to protect their economies, please see below.
What happens if I do not pay these fees?
Your order will be returned to us by the carrier, and you will be refunded (minus any postage charged) when the order arrives back in our warehouse.
Individual country customs fees
Some counties are also introducing their own individual customs fees for parcels shipped from outside the EU. These fees are on top of the duty charges. Once again, we cannot collect this at checkout and this fee will be collected directly from the consignee.
Italy
On 1 January 2026, the Italian Government introduced a €2 customs administration fee for parcels sent for delivery from outside the EU with a total shipment value less than or equal to €150. For more information, click here.
France
On 1 March 2026, the French Government introduced a €2 customs administration fee per line item sent for delivery from outside the EU with a total shipment value less than or equal to €150. For more information, click here.
Romania
On 1 January 2026, the Romanian Government introduced a €5 customs administration fee for parcels sent for delivery from outside the EU with a total shipment value less than or equal to €150. For more information, click here.
