France Confirms Introduction of €2 “Taxe Petit Colis” Handling Fee – Effective 1 March 2026

Following earlier communications regarding upcoming changes to European customs regulations, France has now officially confirmed the introduction of a €2 handling fee per tariff code for certain low-value imports.

As EU Member States continue to finalise their national implementation frameworks at different speeds, this is the first confirmed update relating specifically to France.

What Is Changing?

From 1 March 2026, a €2 handling fee per tariff code will apply to H7 declarations (simplified electronic customs declarations for low-value consignments) imported into:

France

Monaco

Guadeloupe

Martinique

Reunion Island

This measure is commonly referred to as the “taxe petit colis.”

Collection Process (As Communicated by French Authorities)

The collection mechanism will vary depending on the IOSS or VAT status of the shipment:

IOSS Shipments with a French IOSS Number

The platform/IOSS holder is responsible for paying the fee together with VAT.

La Poste is not involved in the collection or payment of the fee.

IOSS Shipments with a Non-French IOSS Number

Shippers must register in France via the Guichet unique de formalités d’entreprises to declare and pay the handling fee separately. La Poste is not involved in this process.

Non-IOSS Shipments Imported by Holders of a French VAT Number

The fee must be declared and paid through the importer’s monthly VAT return.

All Other Shipments (Including C2C)

La Poste will collect the fee from the consignee.

The fee will be remitted to the authorities alongside applicable taxes and duties.

Impact on Cross-Border Flows

For shipments imported and customs cleared under H7 into France, Monaco, Guadeloupe, Martinique or Reunion Island:

A €2 fee per tariff code will apply.

The method of collection will depend on the applicable IOSS or VAT status, as outlined above.

Businesses shipping low-value consignments into these territories should assess the potential financial and operational impact, particularly where multiple tariff codes are declared within a single shipment.

UKP Worldwide continues to monitor regulatory developments across the EU and will provide further updates as additional Member States confirm their national approaches.

For guidance on how this change may affect your cross-border operations, please contact your UKP Worldwide representative.

Turkish customs authorities have announced a significant regulatory change that will impact all incoming shipments to Turkey, including low-value parcels.

📅 Effective date: 6 February 2026

While no operational or system changes are required from shippers or carriers, this change will have a direct impact on Turkish end customers, particularly at the point of delivery.

🔎 Previous Customs Practice 

Shipments below EUR 30 (incl. postage):
Duties are automatically calculated by customs and collected at delivery.
No action required from the consignee under simplified procedures.

Shipments above EUR 30 (incl. postage):
Parcels are held at customs until the consignee submits an application and a formal customs declaration is lodged.
Declarations must be submitted by a licensed customs broker.

⚠️ What Changed on 6 February 2026

The EUR 30 de minimis threshold will be abolished entirely.
Every shipment, regardless of value, will require customs clearance via a licensed customs broker.

📦 Expected Impact on End Customers

Brokerage fees may exceed the value of low-value goods
Delivery delays and higher refusal rates are expected initially, until local processes stabilise

🤝 What This Means for Shippers

✅ No technical or operational changes to shipping flows

⚠️ Potential increase in returns, delays, and customer complaints

📢 Strongly recommended to proactively inform Turkish customers about the new requirements and possible brokerage charges

We are currently awaiting further clarification from Turkish customs authorities regarding implementation details. However, with the regulation now effective, we wanted to share this now to support your planning and customer communications.

If Turkey is a key destination in your cross-border strategy, now is the time to prepare.

📩 For guidance, impact assessments, or customer messaging support, speak to the UKP Worldwide team.