A small parcel from China, Thailand or Vietnam now costs more when it arrives in France: €3 customs duty per product category since 1 July 2026, and a €2 handling fee from 1 November 2026. Here is what changes for a small business that sells, buys or orders samples.
For information only, up to date on 31 October 2026. These rules are new and may still change: always check the customs website before sending or ordering.
What has changed
| Since | What | How much |
|---|---|---|
| 1 March to 30 June 2026 | French tax on small parcels (2026 Finance Act) | €2 — abolished on 1 July 2026 |
| 1 July 2026 | Flat-rate European Union customs duty on consignments worth €150 or less | €3 per product category (each different customs code in the parcel) |
| 1 November 2026 | Handling fee for consignments | €2 (see the note below) |
| July 2028 (planned) | End of the flat rate: the normal customs duties of each product apply | depends on the product |
Example: a €120 parcel containing tea, spices and a scarf (3 different categories) pays 3 × €3 = €9 customs duty, plus the handling fee, plus VAT, which does not change.
Note: the sources do not all say the same thing about the €2 fee: French customs present it per product category; other texts speak of an amount per consignment. Ask your carrier for details, or check the customs website.
What it means for a small business
- You sell online to customers in France from China, Thailand or Vietnam: the seller or the importer declares and pays this duty. Show your customers an "all-inclusive" price, otherwise they will get a bad surprise.
- You group your shipments: one large consignment declared normally can cost less than many small parcels. Do the calculation with your carrier.
- You receive samples from a future supplier: plan these few euros in your budget, and keep the invoice and the tracking number.
- Fewer categories = lower costs: a parcel with a single type of product pays a single flat rate.
What does not change
- VAT is still due, as before.
- Product safety rules remain the same: CE marking, label in French.
- Some products remain prohibited or strictly controlled (products of animal origin, fresh plants and fruit, medicines, counterfeits): find out before placing any order.
To go further
Looking for a supplier in Asia or a buyer in France, verified in the official register of its country?
Publish a requestSources (consulted on 31 October 2026): Council Regulation (EU) 2026/382 (€3 flat-rate duty); Council of the European Union, press release of 12 December 2025; French customs, page « Petits colis : ce qui change pour vos achats en ligne » (www.douane.gouv.fr); French law no. 2026-103 of 19 February 2026, article 82 (former French tax). For information only: this information does not engage the liability of Passerelle France-Asie; only customs information is authoritative.