The EU market is facing growing challenges from e-commerce imports from outside the EU that pose risks to our health and safety, are unsustainable from an environment and climate viewpoint, and are creating unfair competition for compliant businesses in the EU, including SMEs. With this Communication, the Commission puts forward a holistic approach to address the risks and distortions created by the large volume of imports of such products. This comprehensive approach is based on a well-coordinated set of actions, bringing together in particular the European institutions, the Member States and all national competent authorities. 

The initiative details a wide-ranging "toolbox", proposing a series of structural changes to the regulatory framework, with a particular focus on the customs reform and on measures for environmental protection, stressing the high priority of coordinated enforcement and focusing on the robust enforcement and complementarity of digital rules. 

More in detail, the Commission calls on the co-legislators to swiftly adopt the customs reform proposal which includes, among others, the removal of the customs duty exemption for shipments under €150. The Commission is also initiating a reflection on how to further strengthen the proposed measures with additional support to the customs authorities, for example through a new non-discriminatory handling fee for goods imported into the EU directly to consumers. On environmental protection, the Commission will support the roll-out of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and the effective application of existing extended producer responsibility rules.

Then, the Commission stresses the high priority of coordinated enforcement actions, putting forward targeted actions such as Customs Priority Control Area (PCA) and Coordinated Activity on the Safety of Products (CASP). Further, the Commission will focus on the robust enforcement and the complementarity of digital rules, such as Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA), supported by well-coordinated actions across all competent authorities.  

In addition, the Commission announces measures to support a modern and resilient supervisory toolbox, in particular through the use of the Digital Product Passport, AI tools for the detection of illegal goods and shared databases. Not least, awareness raising, and educational efforts are essential to empower and protect consumers, including minors, and help legitimate businesses offer compliant products in the EU. Finally, such measures need to be flanked by dialogue with international partners and third countries where imported products originate from. Moreover, the Commission will continue monitoring trade practices of third countries and remains vigilant on unfair trade practices.