Starting Wednesday, 1 July, online shoppers in Greece ordering from platforms like Temu and Shein — or any non-EU e-commerce site — will face a new €3 import duty. But it’s not applied per package. Instead, it’s charged per distinct product type: one €3 fee for each different item in the order.
For example, a parcel containing a book, a notebook, and a pen would incur €9 in duties (€3 × 3 items). If two items are identical — say, two identical pens — they count as one product type, so only €3 applies. On top of this, VAT and any other applicable charges will still apply.
The duty applies to all cross-border online purchases valued up to €150 and is limited to private consumers buying from outside the EU — not intra-EU transactions. Consumers won’t pay it directly at customs. Instead, the importer’s customs declarant — whether the platform itself, the seller, the courier, or their authorized representative — collects and remits it to Greek customs authorities. In practice, that cost is expected to be passed on to buyers through higher final prices.
One important caveat: if you return an item simply because you changed your mind, the €3 duty is not refunded. Refunds are only possible for defective goods or cases where the delivered item materially differs from what was ordered — and only if proper customs procedures are followed.
This measure is temporary, set to remain in force until 30 June 2028. It was approved at the EU level in late 2025, citing concerns over unfair competition and consumer safety risks. In 2024 alone, Temu and Shein generated around €600 million in sales in Greece — a figure the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (ESEE) estimates represents lost revenue for domestic retailers.
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