If you run a WooCommerce store and ship from the UK to the European Union, a deadline lands tomorrow. On July 1, the EU removes its long-standing €150 customs duty exemption for low-value imports. Every commercial shipment into the EU will now face duties, even small ones.

What changes on July 1

Until now, low-value parcels (worth €150 or less) often crossed into the EU without customs duty. That exemption disappears. From July 1, every shipment faces a flat duty per item category, around €3, plus standard import VAT.

This hits direct-to-consumer sellers hardest. If a customer orders a shirt and a pair of sunglasses in one box, that is two separate item categories. The order picks up €6 in flat duties on top of VAT. Stores that rely on small, low-cost items shipped individually will feel this the most.

Why shipments get rejected, not just taxed

Separately from the exemption change, EU customs checks have gotten stricter. Borders are increasingly automated, and errors that used to trigger a warning now cause an outright rejection or a long delay. According to WooCommerce, three things in your backend data need to be accurate before you ship:

  • Harmonized System (HS) codes. This is the code customs uses to identify exactly what an item is. It must match the product’s exact material, construction, and purpose, not a rough category. Use HMRC’s Trade Tariff tool to build a reference sheet for your SKU catalog once, so you stop entering it by hand for every order.
  • Matching commercial invoices. The value on your customs declaration must match your invoice exactly. Avoid generic descriptions like “clothing.” Customs wants specifics: “100% cotton knit sweater,” with unit price, currency, and country of origin.
  • A verified UK EORI number. This is your export license number, required for all commercial UK exports. It’s free to get from HMRC and usually processed within a few days. Once you have it, hardcode it into your shipping profile so it’s never missing from a label.

What to do before your next EU order ships

If you sell from the UK into the EU, treat this as a today problem, not a someday one. Pull up your shipping settings and your SKU catalog, and check each of the three items above. A missing EORI number or a vague HS code is now the difference between a shipment that clears and one that gets sent back or held at the border.

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