America News Agency

The measure was introduced in line with the European Union Council's regulation abolishing the customs exemption previously granted to low-value consignments.

Under the new system, the duty will not be charged for every individual product in an order but for each tariff classification or product group listed in the customs declaration. Multiple products falling under the same customs classification may be treated as a single item, while separate duties will apply to different product groups.

The regulation applies to products shipped to Bulgaria from all countries outside the European Union, including Türkiye, provided they are classified as remote sales. Therefore, e-commerce orders sent from Türkiye to Bulgaria will also be subject to the new rules.

The Bulgarian Customs Agency stated that for purchases made under the European Union's Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) system, the duty is expected to be collected primarily by online sales platforms. If the duty has not been collected at the time of purchase, payment will be made during customs clearance through postal operators, courier companies, or indirect representatives acting on behalf of consumers.

Existing customs procedures for consignments valued at more than 150 euros will remain unchanged. In addition, for certain commercial shipments valued below 150 euros that do not qualify as remote sales, existing import duties or preferential tariff arrangements based on the product's origin will continue to apply.

Under the new regulation, the 3-euro import duty paid for goods purchased through remote sales and later returned to the seller will generally not be refunded. However, if the product is defective or does not comply with the terms of the contract, a refund may be requested under the provisions of the European Union Customs Code.

The Bulgarian Customs Agency also stated that the fixed 3-euro import duty is a temporary measure and is expected to remain in force until July 1, 2028, when the European Union's new customs data hub for e-commerce is scheduled to become operational.