17 Days After the New Import Duty Came into Effect: Why Are Customs Clearance Delays Still Occurring?
On 1 July 2026, the new import duty regime for online purchases of goods valued at up to €150 from countries outside the European Union came into effect.
The new measure is part of the EU’s updated customs policy and introduces a €3 import duty for each different type of product included in a shipment.
However, the implementation of the new regulation has affected more than just import costs. It has also placed significant pressure on customs clearance procedures, leaving thousands of shipments awaiting customs processing for several days.
Why Are Delays Occurring?
Under the new rules, every shipment must be assessed based on its contents in order to determine the number of different product types it includes and calculate the corresponding import duty.
At a time when hundreds of thousands of small parcels enter Greece every day from online marketplaces outside the European Union, adapting customs procedures and information systems to the new requirements was expected to create a substantial operational workload.
As a result, thousands of shipments required additional time to complete the necessary customs inspections before being released for delivery.
What Does This Mean for Consumers?
If you were expecting a shipment from a non-EU country after 1 July, you may have experienced:
→ delayed tracking updates,
→ longer waiting times while the shipment remained at customs,
→ extended customs clearance procedures,
→ longer overall delivery times compared to the previous customs regime.
These delays do not necessarily indicate a problem with your shipment. In many cases, they are simply the result of the additional customs procedures required under the new import duty framework.
Will Processing Times Return to Normal?
As customs authorities and their information systems continue to adapt to the new procedures, customs clearance times are expected to improve gradually.
Seventeen days after the implementation of the new measure, the overall situation has already improved noticeably. Nevertheless, delays are still being observed for some shipments, indicating that the transition to the new customs framework is still ongoing.
APS Perspective
Changes to customs regulations affect not only clearance procedures but also the planning of businesses and consumers importing goods from outside the European Union.
At APS, we closely monitor developments in international logistics and customs regulations to provide our customers and partners with timely, accurate and practical information about every change that may affect their shipments.
Through the APS Blog, we will continue to share industry updates, practical guidance and expert insights to help businesses and consumers better understand regulatory changes and plan their imports more effectively.
APS team
July 2026