Two compliance changes now make accurate product data more important for Litbuy users shipping to the European Union or United States. The EU’s temporary fixed duty for low-value e-commerce parcels took effect on July 1, 2026, and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission began mandatory eFiling for certificates covering most regulated imported consumer products on July 8, 2026.
EU: the €3 amount is not simply “per parcel”
The Council of the EU explains that the temporary €3 duty applies to each different category of goods, identified by tariff classification, in a parcel valued below €150. A mixed parcel can therefore attract more than one €3 charge. Buyers should not assume that adding unrelated product types always saves customs cost.
Before consolidation, group items by material and intended use, then check whether splitting changes freight, duty and handling together. The cheapest answer depends on the actual route and item mix.
US: low value no longer means no entry requirements
US Customs and Border Protection states that the general duty-free de minimis treatment for shipments valued at $800 or less was suspended globally from August 29, 2025. Duties, taxes and appropriate entry procedures can apply even when the parcel value is modest.
For regulated consumer products, CPSC eFiling now requires the importer to submit certificate data electronically before products enter US commerce. Toys, children’s products and other regulated categories deserve an eligibility check before purchase, not after packing.
Product data to save in Litbuy
- Plain-language product name and intended use;
- material or composition where relevant;
- quantity and unit value supported by the order record;
- country of origin and seller invoice;
- model or SKU for regulated goods;
- test report or certificate details when a product rule requires them.
What not to do
Do not replace an accurate description with vague labels such as “gift,” “sample” or “accessory.” Do not reduce a declared value simply to chase a threshold. Incomplete data can lead to questions, reassessment, delay or return and may also limit a compensation claim.
A safer Litbuy dispatch workflow
- Check whether every item is accepted by the destination and selected line.
- Save the product pages, QC photos, invoice and declaration preview.
- Compare actual and volumetric weight after packing.
- Read the route’s tax, duty and insurance wording before payment.
- Keep all customs or carrier requests in the same parcel record.
Authoritative references include the Council of the EU small-parcel explainer, CBP de minimis guidance and CPSC eFiling page.
This article is general buyer information, not legal or customs advice. Requirements and route support can change; check the destination authority and Litbuy’s live route rules for the specific goods.