EFIC has co-signed a joint statement alongside EURATEX and 15 members of the Business Coalition calling on the European Union to act without delay on the introduction of deemed importer obligations. While welcoming the planned introduction of the “deemed importer” rule under the future Union Customs Code, the coalition strongly urges EU legislators not to postpone its enforcement until 2028. The challenges are already pressing: in 2025 alone, an estimated 5.8 billion parcels entered the EU market.
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The statement highlights the exponential growth of e-commerce imports and the increasing number of small consignments, many of which do not comply with EU rules on product safety, VAT, intellectual property, and environmental standards. These practices create unfair competition for compliant European businesses, undermine entire industrial value chains, and expose consumers to potential risks.
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In this context, the coalition calls for the immediate introduction of a legal obligation for non-EU operators to appoint a legally responsible person or entity within the EU. Such a measure is considered technically feasible in the short term and would significantly strengthen enforcement capacities.