78 per cent of toys inspected in Austria did not comply with EU safety standards
As part of the "PCA" (Priority Control Area), a total of 20,000 toys and small electronic devices were inspected across Europe in cooperation with the market surveillance authorities, more than half of which did not comply with EU product standards. When selected products were tested in the laboratory, 84 per cent were classified as dangerous. The "PCA" is a priority action coordinated by the EU on behalf of the EU Directorate for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) and the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD), in which customs and market surveillance authorities in all member states work together.
In Austria, 69 orders for children's toys, mainly small consignments from third countries, were examined in cooperation with customs, BAVG, AGES Internet Unit and experts. 78 per cent of the products did not comply with EU safety standards. The main reasons were various labelling deficiencies, including missing CE markings, inadequate warnings and deficiencies in the language of the labelling.
Almost 180 small packages are imported directly to consumers every second
E-commerce has exploded in recent years. Since 2022, the volume of small parcels sent to the EU has doubled every year. According to the EU Commission, 4.6 billion parcels entered the EU market in 2024. Between July 2024 and July 2025, the latest data available to date, there was a further increase of 36 per cent. Almost 180 such direct deliveries are imported every second. Small consignments now account for 97 per cent of deliveries.
“In order to counter the danger of potentially harmful products in online trade, the control activities and cooperation between customs, BAVG and AGES have been intensified on a risk-based basis. BAVG is specifically monitoring trends in the purchasing behaviour of Austrian consumers by product group, country of origin and online platform in order to be able to exchange expertise in operational enforcement and ensure a high level of consumer protection, for example for children's toys, food supplements and cosmetics”, says BAVG Director and AGES Managing Director Anton Reinl.
EU takes action against parcel flood: abolition of customs exemption for small consignments from 1 July 2026
Following the abolition of duty exemption from 1 July 2026 for parcels with a value of up to 150 euros and the introduction of a uniform duty rate of 3 euros, which was adopted by the Council of Finance and Economic Affairs Ministers, the EU has now taken initial measures with regard to the large number of parcels from third countries. Link to the press release with quotes from State Secretary for Consumer Protection Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig, Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer and State Secretary for Finance Barbara Eibinger-Miedl.
Report of large scale EU customs control action “Most third-country e-commerce goods do not follow standards”.