EU Import Fees: Irish Shoppers Shift to Local and Secondhand Retail

Irish consumers face new costs when buying goods from outside the European Union, a change that is altering shopping habits ahead of the Christmas season.

The fees stem from two recent regulatory changes. In July, a flat customs duty of three euros was introduced for low-value consumer imports valued at 150 euros or less. Starting November 1, an additional handling fee of two euros, plus value added tax, applies to all non-EU shipments.

Simon Tierney, a reporter for Newstalk, investigated how these charges affect household budgets. His findings indicate a noticeable shift toward local retail and secondhand marketplaces like Vinted. One shopper told Tierney she is more likely to visit physical stores, while her friend noted a move toward vintage and secondhand clothing to avoid buying new items.

The impact on price is substantial for small purchases. The pair explained that after accounting for shipping, customs, and handling fees, an item originally priced at five euros can cost 15 euros by the time it reaches the buyer. Another shopper said they would only buy online from outside the EU if the specific item was unavailable in Ireland.

The shift aligns with broader trends in the region. Tierney reported that 5.7 billion small packages entered European homes in 2025. Ninety percent of these shipments originated from Chinese websites such as Temu and Shein.

Dirk Gotink, a Dutch Member of the European Parliament, has been leading efforts to manage these import volumes. He stated that the Netherlands and Belgium, which account for roughly 50% of all imports into the European market, have seen a reduction of about 40% in incoming packages. Gotink noted that the Netherlands previously received around 16 million packages daily, a figure that has now dropped by four to five million per day.

Gotink described the reduction as confirmation that taxed packages become unprofitable for producers. He characterized many of the imported goods as "profitable trash" and stated that the new system eliminates a "toxic business model." When challenged on the term "trash," Gotink pointed to compliance issues. He said that 60% to 80% of imports have been deemed non-compliant with health and safety standards, citing dangerous makeup and inflammable chargers or batteries as examples that risk consumer safety.

The combination of higher costs and safety concerns is pushing a significant portion of the market toward alternative purchasing channels.