EU Customs Handling Fee

A new charge set by the European Union on parcels sent into the EU. Here’s what it means for your order.

In short: this isn’t our fee

The EU Customs Handling Fee is set by the European Union, not by London Loves Beauty. We didn’t choose it, and we can’t change it or opt out of it. It applies to online orders sent into the EU from outside it, including from the UK, so every business delivering to EU customers is affected. We’ve kept it as small and simple as we can, and we always show it clearly before you pay.

1. What is it?

As part of its customs changes, the European Union has introduced a Union Handling Fee from 1 November 2026. The EU says it covers the cost of customs checks on the fast-growing number of small parcels arriving from outside the EU.

The fee is about €2. We collect it at checkout on EU orders and pay it when the customs declaration is made, so you don’t get a surprise charge on delivery.

2. Who it applies to

  • Orders delivered to an address in an EU country, for example Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy or the Netherlands.
  • Not UK orders (including Northern Ireland), and not orders to Switzerland, Norway, Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man or other countries outside the EU.
  • It’s based on your delivery address.

3. How much it is

  • One charge per order. Whether you order one item or ten, it’s a single fee of around €2.
  • It is £1.75 plus your country’s VAT, the same way VAT is added to delivery, shown in your local currency at checkout.
  • You’ll see it as its own line, “EU Customs Handling Fee”, before you pay. There’s nothing extra to pay when your parcel arrives.

This could change. Under the EU’s rules, the fee can be counted for each different item in a parcel. For now we’re keeping it to one charge per order. If the way it’s worked out has to change, we’ll update this page first, and you’ll always see the exact amount at checkout before you pay.

4. What it doesn’t cover

  • E-gift cards: there’s nothing to post, so there’s no fee. An order with only e-gift cards isn’t charged.
  • It isn’t VAT. VAT on your order is still handled at checkout as it is now. This fee is a separate EU customs charge, not an extra tax on your products.
  • Delivery prices haven’t changed. The fee is shown separately from delivery, so you can see exactly what it is.

5. Refunds

  • If you cancel before we dispatch your order (and before the customs declaration is made), we refund the fee in full with the rest of your payment.
  • Once the customs declaration has been made, the EU does not refund this fee to us. On a change-of-mind cancellation or return after that point, we can’t refund the EU Customs Handling Fee.
  • If your item is faulty, damaged or not as described, we refund the fee as well as the product price and the return postage, even if the customs declaration has already been made.

This page doesn’t change your other legal rights about the products themselves. See our Returns Policy and Terms & Conditions.

6. Any questions?

We know nobody likes an extra charge, and we’re sorry it’s needed. If you’ve any questions about the fee or your order, email us at clientsupport@londonlovesbeauty.com. We’re always happy to help.

Official information: European Commission, EU Customs Reform