Fees Raised for Packages from Third Countries
Eesti Post is raising the price of customs formalities on parcels from outside the EU, in what is sure to be an unwelcome development for many already stymied by duties on mail-order goods.
Starting in July, Eesti Post is taking over the duty of package declarations, which was previously the responsibility of the Tax and Customs Board.
"The greater workload means that Eesti Post must raise the service charges on customer declarations," said postal service division head Jaan Vainult. "The new procedures inevitably mean more work and declaring goods may take more time."
It will cost 9 euros instead of 6.50 euros to import a parcel with contents under 150 euros in value. And it will take two to five business days to process the packages starting from the time that they arrive in a customs terminal in Estonia.
But Vainult noted that people can save on service charges and submit the declaration themselves. To do so, they would have to go to the nearest customs office or file electronically.
Kristopher Rikken