Customers of DHL Globalmail in the United Kingdom will soon no longer be able to send parcels to consumers in the European Union due to the carrier’s inability to comply with new customs rules taking effect on July 1st.
Brussels imposed these rules, which require sellers to pay a customs levy on parcels worth up to 150 euros shipped from outside the EU to one of its member states.
The measure is temporary, preceding the abolition of an existing customs exemption, and will affect not only UK online retailers but also those from China and the US.
Online retailers will face a flat fee of 3 euros on low-value parcels imported into the European Union, with duties to be paid by the sender or declarant, rather than the recipient, from July 1st.
The report states that DHL Globalmail service is currently unable to support this process as it does not have a Delivered Duty Paid solution, where the fees would be covered by the seller.
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DHL has stated that it is working on such a solution, but has not indicated when it will be ready, resulting in the temporary suspension of the service from June 24th.
Suspension only affects Globalmail shipments containing goods destined for the EU.
British online retailers that already hold inventory within the European Union are also unaffected by the suspension, as they do not rely on international shipping for these products.
They introduced these measures to reduce the influx of products, particularly from China, with a significant increase in low-value ecommerce parcels entering the European Union last year.
Repeated inspections have shown that many products shipped directly to consumers from third countries do not comply with EU product regulations and safety standards, prompting the EU to curb the influx of unsafe products, and it is working on a permanent handling fee to cover the costs of customs inspections.
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EU’s efforts to regulate the influx of low-value parcels are expected to have a significant impact on online retailers, particularly those that rely heavily on european ecommerce sales, and as the situation continues to evolve, online retailers are advised to stay informed about the latest developments.
For more information on the EU’s customs regulations, visit the European Commission website, which provides detailed information on the new rules and regulations.
DHL’s suspension of its Globalmail service is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to regulate international shipping.
It will be closely watched by online retailers and industry experts, as they try to handle the new customs rules and find alternative shipping options to minimize disruptions to their business.