compliance

DPP as Customs Tool: What the EP Confirmed in 2026

The European Parliament confirmed DPP integration into EU customs enforcement. What this means for importers, compliance teams, and border checks.

3/27/2026 · 7 min read · InfoDPP

🔄 Update (26 March 2026): On the same day this article was published, the European Parliament and Council reached a provisional political agreement on the most comprehensive EU Customs Reform since 1968. The agreement establishes an EU Customs Data Hub (available for optional use by 2031 and mandatory by 2034), a new EU Customs Authority in Lille, and introduces a per-parcel handling fee for goods entering the EU from non-EU sellers. This political agreement significantly reinforces the DPP–customs enforcement direction described in this article. Source: European Parliament press release

What the European Parliament Said

In a written answer published on 17 March 2026 (E-005012/2025), the European Commission confirmed to the European Parliament that EU customs systems are being built to access relevant regulatory information such as DPP data. The answer addressed growing concerns about product non-compliance across EU borders, particularly in e-commerce channels.

The key data point: over 50% of products sampled from online imports were found to be non-compliant with applicable EU product rules. The Commission acknowledged this as a systemic enforcement gap and presented the DPP as one tool in a broader enforcement response. Importantly, this non-compliance rate describes the market before DPP border checks are operational.

What Was Specifically Confirmed

The parliamentary answer confirmed several concrete enforcement directions:

1. DPP data in the EU Single Window

The Commission confirmed that DPP data will be accessible through the EU Single Window Environment for Customs, the electronic system through which all import and export documentation will be processed. This means customs authorities will be able to cross-check product declarations against the DPP registry at the point of border clearance.

2. Market surveillance and customs cooperation

The answer reaffirmed the strengthening of the link between market surveillance authorities and customs authorities. Under ESPR, market surveillance can request DPP data to verify compliance. The customs integration extends this check to the border itself, before products reach the internal market.

3. E-commerce enforcement as a priority

The Commission explicitly flagged online sales channels as a priority enforcement gap. Products sold through online marketplaces often bypass traditional import routes and compliance checks. DPP-linked customs verification is framed as one response within a wider enforcement package for this channel.

What This Does Not Mean

It is important to separate confirmed direction from operational detail:

this does not mean customs officers will scan every product’s QR code at the border tomorrow
the technical integration between the DPP registry and the Single Window is still being built
the exact triggering conditions for border DPP checks (random, risk-based, complaint-driven) are not yet published
this applies to products subject to an applicable DPP mandate — either an ESPR delegated act or a standalone regulation (Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, Toy Safety Regulation (EU) 2025/2509, Detergents Regulation (EU) 2026/405) — not to all imported goods

Why This Matters for Importers

For companies importing products into the EU, the customs–DPP link creates a new risk layer:

Products without valid DPP data may be flagged at the border

If a product should have a DPP under an applicable act — an ESPR delegated act or a standalone regulation (batteries, toys, detergents) — and the data is missing or incomplete, customs authorities will have the technical capability to hold the shipment. As of early 2026, the standalone regulations are already in force (Battery Regulation from 2023 with DPP obligations from 18 February 2027, Toy Safety Regulation from 1 January 2026 with DPP from 1 August 2030, Detergents Regulation with DPP from 23 September 2029), while no ESPR delegated acts have yet mandated a DPP. The customs integration is therefore a prospective enforcement layer that will activate category by category.

The burden falls on the importer, not the manufacturer

Under ESPR Articles 23–25 — and the parallel importer provisions in the Battery Regulation (Art. 41), the Toy Safety Regulation (Art. 8) and the Detergents Regulation (Art. 15) — the importer is responsible for verifying that the product has a valid DPP before placing it on the market. If a shipment is held at customs due to missing DPP data, the importer bears the operational and financial consequences.

For a full guide on importer obligations, see Importing Products into the EU: DPP Responsibilities.

Online sellers face among the highest future risk

The Commission’s answer highlights e-commerce imports as a strategic priority area and cites the over 50% non-compliance finding from a joint control action. Sellers on EU marketplace platforms who import products from non-EU manufacturers should therefore treat themselves as an early-focus group for stronger scrutiny, not as the only target and not because DPP alone resolves the problem.

What Should Companies Do Now

1. Treat DPP as a border-readiness issue, not just a product-readiness issue

The customs integration means DPP compliance becomes an import logistics concern. Customs brokers, freight forwarders, and trade compliance teams should be included in DPP preparation.

2. Verify DPP data before shipment, not after arrival

If customs authorities can check DPP data at the border, the cost of missing data is no longer just a market surveillance fine — it is also shipment delays, storage costs, and potential rejection. Verification must move upstream.

3. Monitor which product categories are covered

Not all products will require a DPP at once. Customs enforcement will apply only to product categories for which delegated acts have been adopted. Check the industry pages on InfoDPP to see the current regulatory timeline for your sector.

4. Prepare for risk-based checks on e-commerce imports

If you sell via online marketplaces and your products are imported from outside the EU, assume that your shipments are in the highest-risk category for future DPP border checks.

Official Sources

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