EU introduces €3 flat fee on cross-border mail via Poșta Moldovei
Moldovan state postal operator Poșta Moldovei announced that a simplified flat customs fee of €3 (approx. 59 MDL) applies to specific international mail items dispatched to the European Union. The regulatory measure entered into force on July 1, 2026.
The update targets business-to-consumer (B2C) commercial shipments sent from outside the EU to consumers within member states. It encompasses all postal items with a total goods value of up to €150 (approx. 2,940 MDL) transported via the standard network, including small packets, regular parcels, and EMS express items.
Tariff execution and national taxes
The €3 flat fee applies individually to each product category listed distinctly on the commercial invoice or customs declaration. Consequently, if a single parcel contains goods subject to different tariff classifications, customs authorities will levy the charge separately for each category.
Postal and customs operators within individual EU member states retain the authority to collect additional processing fees and national value-added tax (VAT). Stakeholders can review the comprehensive list of EU member states and corresponding internal transit rates on the official Poșta Moldovei web platform.
Exemptions and strategic framework
The new customs guidelines strictly exclude non-commercial consumer-to-consumer (C2C) gift shipments sent between private individuals, provided the total package value remains under €45 (approx. 880 MDL). Furthermore, commercial shipments valued above €150 will continue to undergo standard, non-simplified European customs clearance procedures.
The structural updates align with the broader European Union customs modernization framework. The measure directly stems from amendments to EU Delegated Regulation 2015/2446, which the European Commission adopted on April 30, 2026, alongside new legislative structures eliminating low-value import tax exemptions.
The €3 flat fee serves as a temporary fiscal mechanism. It will remain active until the full deployment of the new European customs data management system, which authorities schedule for completion in 2028.
According to joint statements from the European Commission and the Council of the European Union, the initiative aims to neutralize international customs fraud. The strategy will ensure fair market competition for European traders while increasing consumer protection across the expanding cross-border e-commerce sector.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
