Shipping from the UK to Europe just got a lot more expensive.
WooCommerce recently covered the big UK shipping changes: stricter customs checks, a new fee on low-value EU orders, and the difference between DDU and DDP shipping. That’s a good starting point.
But POD stores have a few things going on that other stores don’t.
Your products often come in several types, are made in a different country from where you live, and are shipped straight from the printer to the customer. So the new rules hit you a bit differently.
So, what’s changed?
Until 1 July 2026, parcels worth €150 or less could enter the EU without customs duty.
That’s no longer the case. The EU has introduced a temporary €3 customs duty on low-value parcels coming into the EU from outside it. The rule is expected to stay in place until July 2028.
TL;DR: The fee is charged based on the types of products inside the parcel.
For example:
- Three identical t-shirts will usually count as one product type, so you’d pay one €3 charge.
- A t-shirt, mug, and tote bag are three different product types, so they could be charged separately.
The exact amount depends on how customs classifies each item, but mixed-product orders are the ones you want to keep tabs on.
Why does this matter more for POD sellers?
POD stores love selling matching sets.
A customer might order a t-shirt, mug, and tote bag with the same design. To them, it’s one order but customs may see it as different product types.
When you add together printing, shipping, VAT, this new customs duty, and any carrier fees, those extra costs stack up fast.
You don’t necessarily need to increase your prices, but you might want to look at what customers usually buy together and if it’s still profitable.
Double-check your customs information
WooCommerce also flagged that customs forms are getting more attention.
Descriptions like “merch,” “gift,” or “clothing” are too vague.
Instead, be super specific. Something like “100% cotton knitted t-shirt” gives customs tons more useful information.
Even if your fulfilment provider completes the paperwork for you, check:
- If the product descriptions are accurate
- Whether the values are 100% correct
- Who’s responsible if something’s wrong
- If they’re using the right customs codes
A parcel can still be delayed if the paperwork is wrong, even when the product itself is fine.
VAT and customs duty aren’t the same thing
These are easy to confuse.
Import VAT has applied to low-value EU orders since 2021 through the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) system.
The new €3 charge is different.
Because it’s customs duty and not VAT anymore, it means an order could now include VAT, customs duty, shipping costs, and carrier or handling fees.
If your checkout already collects VAT, don’t assume it’s also collecting the new customs duty. It’s worth checking with your ecommerce platform, POD provider, or shipping carrier.
DDU and DDP, in plain English
WooCommerce also explains the difference between DDU and DDP shipping.
DDU (Delivery Duty Unpaid) means the customer may be asked to pay import charges before their parcel is delivered.
DDP (Delivery Duty Paid) means those charges are collected before delivery, so customers know the total cost upfront.
Not every carrier or fulfilment provider supports DDP, but whichever option you use, make sure customers know what to expect before they order.
Can you avoid the fee by printing inside the EU?
In some cases, yes.
Some POD providers have facilities inside the EU. Printful, for example, has fulfillment centers in Latvia and Spain. If an order is made inside the EU and shipped to a customer in another EU country, it never enters the EU as an import, so this new low-value duty doesn’t apply the same way.
There’s a couple of things to check, though.
Not every product is available from every fulfilment location, and not every order is automatically routed there.
Two questions you shouldn’t skip:
- Which products can be made in the EU?
- Will my orders actually be fulfilled there?
Where Order Desk can help
If you work with multiple fulfillment partners or print locations, Order Desk can help route orders to the right place automatically.
For example, you might send eligible EU orders to an EU-based production partner while everything else follows its usual workflow.
If different products need to be made in different places, you can split those orders too.
The idea is simple: let your workflow handle the routing instead of checking every order manually.
What should you check now?
You don’t need to rebuild your whole shipping process this week. Start smaller:
- Look at your recent EU orders. How many included multiple product types?
- Ask your fulfilment provider which products can actually be made inside the EU.
- Review your customs descriptions, values, and product codes.
- Confirm who pays the new customs duty.
- Place a test order and follow it from checkout to delivery.
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If you want to stay on top of what’s happening in print on demand, join the Order Desk Insiders community. It’s where merchants share what’s working, ask questions, and help each other navigate changes like these.
