French National Assembly Approves €2 Tax on Small Parcels from Outside EU to Boost Product Safety

The French National Assembly has approved a new tax of €2 on small parcels valued under €150 originating from outside the European Union, aiming to finance enhanced customs controls and product safety measures. The proposal, approved on November 19, 2025, passed with 208 votes in favor and 87 against. This tax specifically targets imports from non-EU countries, notably China, which have raised concerns over potentially dangerous products entering the French market.

The revenue generated from this tax is projected to reach around €500 million. Funds will be directed toward purchasing scanners and hiring additional customs officers to strengthen product safety checks. The tax will be implemented from January 1, 2026, positioning France as one of the first EU countries to enact such a measure, following a recent EU agreement to remove duty exemptions on small imports.

The government amended the original proposal to apply the tax through the VAT system, rather than as a direct consumer charge. This adjustment helped alleviate criticism from the left-wing party France Insoumise, which had expressed concerns about the tax disproportionately impacting consumers. However, opposition remained from the Rassemblement national, whose leader Marine Le Pen criticized the tax as unfairly burdening middle-class consumers without effectively tackling unfair competition from Chinese imports.

Minister for Public Accounts Amélie de Montchalin defended the tax, emphasizing its necessity to improve safety controls and protect consumers from harmful products. Alongside this measure, the National Assembly rejected a separate proposal aimed at taxing all smoking products, including e-cigarettes, recognizing their role in smoking cessation.

This tax has sparked intense debate but reflects France’s commitment to enhancing product safety in an increasingly globalized market and asserting regulatory control over imports from abroad.