EEC approves duty-free import threshold of 200 euros, 5% duty for e-commerce goods from July 1, 2026

MOSCOW. Jan 12 (Interfax) - The Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) has approved a duty-free import threshold for goods purchased by individuals on electronic platforms at the level of 200 euros with the possibility of its subsequent revision, the commission's trade division said.

If this value is exceeded, a customs duty of 5% above the nationally established VAT rates will be levied, but not less than 1 euro per 1 kilogram, on the entire cost of the purchase. Currently, if the threshold is exceeded, a duty of 15% is levied.

For certain types of goods, such as cars, special customs duty rates have been established.

In addition, a list of goods that will be declared without the simplifications regarding the use of a specialized e-commerce declaration provided for by amendments to the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU CC) has been approved, the EEC's trade division said. "The list pertains to purchases not classified as goods for personal use according to the union's current legislation (tanning beds, internal combustion engines, medical furniture, slot machines and so on); goods subject to licensing for import/export (weapons and ammunition, fossil animal bones, hazardous waste and others), as well as alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, cash, aircraft and watercraft, and certain types of vehicles and their chassis," it said.

"By adopting this package of decisions, the commission is completing the formation of the necessary regulatory and legal framework required for the full entry into force and functioning of the amendments to the EAEU CC, signed by the heads of state of the union countries in December 2023 and regulating e-commerce issues," EEC Trade Minister Andrei Slepnev Andrei Slepnev was quoted as saying.

Simultaneously, the EEC Council approved changes to the customs union's technical regulation on the safety of wheeled vehicles and to the procedure for importing products subject to mandatory conformity assessment onto the EAEU's customs territory, which are necessary to ensure imports of cars purchased by citizens of union countries on foreign electronic trading platforms.

It is planned that the new e-commerce procedure in the EAEU will be introduced from July 1, 2026.