- An Post recorded increased parcel traffic from non-EU retailers in the two weeks before 1 July.
- New EU rules impose a €3 customs duty on each item in parcels worth €150 or less.
- Canada Post halted deliveries to Ireland and 11 EU countries over the customs requirements.
- An Post continues services to Canada and collaborates on resumption of full operations.
- The changes ended the previous exemption for low-value goods from outside the EU.
An Post has seen a rush of overseas orders in the two weeks leading up to the introduction of new EU customs rules on 1 July. Retailers outside the EU sent increased traffic to Irish customers as shoppers moved to complete purchases before the changes. The postal operator has monitored the volume of parcels from countries including the UK, China and the US.
The new rules ended the customs duty exemption on goods worth €150 or less from outside the EU. Shoppers now face a €3 customs duty charge on each individual item in a parcel, with VAT and other fees applying in some cases. Canada Post suspended deliveries to Ireland and 11 other EU states due to the adjustments required for low-value shipments. An Post continues normal services from Ireland to Canada while it works with counterparts to restore full operations.
A spokesperson for An Post noted that it remains too early to assess the full impact on online shopping as retailers adapt. The operator recorded the pre-1 July increase as customers anticipated the charges. Former chief executive David McRedmond joined other European postal leaders in calling for a six-month delay to allow preparation time.
An Post shared “Our working assumption was this represented shoppers getting in ahead of the charges.”
