The EU publishes its plan for safer and sustainable e-commerce

National accountancy firm, MHA provides clarity on the new European Commission (EC) guidance, published on 5th February 2025.

The EC communication outlines its plan for making the sector safer and more sustainable.

The plans outline the urgent customs reform and the need for coordinated enforcement actions to combat the surge in e-commerce imports.

Andrew Thurston, Customs Duty and Indirect Tax Consultant to MHA says, “It’s interesting to note that there have been significant increases in low value imports since 2022 with 2024 figures suggesting a total of 4.6bn low value items being received into the EU”.

Figures provided in the communication suggest that 91 per cent of all e-commerce imports are imported directly from China. As a high proportion of e-commerce imports are clothing, the duty savings alone could amount to 12 percent of the value of the item.

These low value supplies are producing cost savings on customs duties which create an unfair playing field for EU-based distributors as they must pay duties on their larger import consignments.

Read the full article here.

About MHA

MHA, ranked the 13th largest accountancy group in the UK and Republic of Ireland, has a turnover of £205m turnover 1,964 staff, 136 partners and comprises of 23 offices nationwide including England, Scotland and Wales, plus a further two in Ireland and also one in the Cayman Islands.

MHA is an independent member firm of Baker Tilly International, the world’s 9th largest international network of independently owned and managed accountancy and business advisory firms, with revenues of $5.62bn and 43,500 people operating across 144 territories.