The challenge

From July 2026, all low-value shipments entering the EU will be subject to customs duties and stricter data requirements.

For non EU postal operators, this creates three immediate challenges:

  • Increased need to collect duties and VAT on nearly all shipments
  • Stronger dependency on accurate pre-submitted customs data
  • Growing pressure to deliver a seamless customer experience

Traditional “deliver at place (DDU)” models are no longer sufficient and in some markets will no longer be allowed.

The solution:  Enable outbound PDDP

IPC’s Postal Delivered Duties Paid (PDDP) framework enables postal operators to manage duties and taxes upfront — before the shipment enters the EU.

This transforms customs from a point of friction into a controlled, predictable process.

Why PDDP matters now

With the removal of the duty-free threshold and increased compliance requirements:

  • Duty collection becomes a requirement for both IOSS and non-IOSS shipments
  • Senders become liable for payment of duty
  • Some EU postal operators will only accept PDDP volume
  • Support for first and third party named declarants (Indirect Representatives)

👉 PDDP is becoming the preferred and scalable approach for maintaining and growing EU volumes.

How to get started

To prepare for July 2026, postal operators should:

  • Clearly communicate their desire to join PDDP to IPC (via email, see below)
    • Please clearly communicate if joining via the PRIME alliance
  • Sign IPC NDA and all applicable framework agreements
  • Receive technical specifications
  • Request access to the PDDP API gateway to review technical requirements and get guidance on implementation
  • Ensure availability of required shipment data at origin
  • Align with EU partners on customs responsibilities including declarant services as needed

👉 PDDP provides dedicated resource and a ready-made framework to support you

Send an email to [email protected] if you want to sign-in for a PDDP contract. 

The impact for your operations

Adopting a PDDP model enables you to:

  • ✅ Maintain business continuity into Europe
  • ✅ Reduce customs-related delays and disruptions
  • ✅ Simplify duty and tax management at scale
  • ✅ Deliver a premium, predictable customer experience

🚀 Take action now

The July 2026 changes are approaching fast — and operators that move early will ensure continuity, avoid disruption, and gain competitive advantage.

Join the growing network of postal operators adopting PDDP today.

By getting started now, you can:

  • Secure uninterrupted access to the EU market
  • Avoid last-minute operational risks and delays
  • Strengthen your partnerships with EU destination posts
  • Deliver a significantly better customer experience from day one

Contact IPC via [email protected] to activate PDDP and prepare your operations for July 2026.