From de minimis to data, how the UK and EU are reshaping low value parcel rules

Low value parcels have long benefited from simplified customs treatment in both the UK and the EU. These thresholds, designed to speed up clearance and reduce administrative burdens, were suited to a world of modest parcel flows. Today that world has changed. Explosive growth from fast-fashion and marketplace giants, especially Shein and Temu, has pushed parcel volumes to unprecedented levels and exposed gaps in valuation, compliance and fair competition. As a result, both the UK and the EU are preparing major reforms. While their timelines differ, the direction is the same, shifting away from