European Logistics Regulation Tightens: Spain Seizes 66,000 Counterfeit Jerseys, DHL Restricts EU Shipping Channels

As July 2026 begins, the European logistics market is entering a new phase of regulatory tightening. On one hand, countries such as Spain are intensifying enforcement actions against counterfeit goods, leading to stricter customs inspections at airports and ports. On the other hand, the European Union’s abolition of the €150 low-value import duty exemption officially took effect on July 1, prompting logistics providers such as DHL to tighten shipping requirements.

For freight forwarders and exporters serving the European market, the risks of cargo inspections, shipment returns, and customs clearance delays are increasing significantly.

Spain’s Enforcement Campaign: 66,000 Counterfeit Football Jerseys Seized, 95 Arrested

According to the Spanish National Police, an international anti-counterfeiting operation named “Clean Trade” was launched ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to combat intellectual property infringement.

The operation covered more than 15 locations, including Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Elche, and Dénia. Authorities seized more than 66,000 counterfeit national football team jerseys and kits, weighing over 16 tons, and arrested 95 individuals.

The investigation began in April 2026 after authorities observed a significant increase in counterfeit football jerseys entering Spain. Most of the seized products were fake replicas of official Spanish national team jerseys, particularly the white away kit.

Police estimated that the counterfeit goods could have generated approximately €2 million in illegal sales, while causing economic losses exceeding €7 million to intellectual property rights holders.

The operation was led by the Spanish National Police and coordinated jointly by Europol and Interpol, with support from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

Spanish authorities stated that the operation will continue until July 19, with a focus on identifying and dismantling new distribution channels linked to World Cup-related counterfeit merchandise.

According to Spanish media reports, Guangdong Province in China has been identified as one of the primary origins of counterfeit jerseys entering Spain. Shipments typically depart from Nansha Port in Guangzhou or Yantian Port in Shenzhen. To evade Spanish customs inspections, criminal networks often route containers through major European gateway ports such as Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Hamburg before transporting the goods overland through France into Spain.

EU Rules Take Effect: End of the €150 Duty Exemption and DHL Service Restrictions

In addition to intensified customs enforcement, the EU’s new low-value parcel import policy officially took effect on July 1, 2026.

Under the new rules, the long-standing customs duty exemption for imported parcels valued below €150 has been abolished. During the transitional period, which runs until July 1, 2028, a temporary flat customs charge of €3 per shipment category will be applied.

The European Commission stated that targeted inspections conducted in 2025 on cosmetics, personal protective equipment, food supplements, toys, and electronic products found that more than 60% of inspected products failed to meet EU standards due to missing labels, prohibited ingredients, or insufficient safety documentation.

The removal of the exemption is intended to create a level playing field and ensure that all imported products comply with the same regulatory requirements.

Against this backdrop, DHL suspended acceptance of EU-bound merchandise parcels through its Globalmail service starting June 24, 2026, with June 23 designated as the final acceptance date.

DHL explained that the new EU regulations require postal import shipments to operate under a Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) customs clearance model, while the current Globalmail infrastructure is not yet equipped to support such procedures. Documents and printed materials remain unaffected, and DHL Express international services continue to operate normally.

At the same time, DHL Hong Kong has strengthened compliance checks for low-value shipments. Parcels declared at €150 or below must now be accompanied by supporting transaction documentation; otherwise, they may be rejected and returned.

Controls have been further tightened for shipments destined for the Netherlands, Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia, and Estonia. Some DHL channels have temporarily stopped accepting shipments with declared values of €150 or less to these destinations. Certain consignments have already been returned at DHL’s Hong Kong processing facilities before entering international transportation networks.

Analysis and Recommendations

Recent developments indicate that European logistics compliance is evolving from destination-port inspections toward risk control measures at the point of origin.

Exporters and freight forwarders serving the European market should focus on several key areas:

First, ensure accurate cargo declarations, including product descriptions, declared values, and supporting documentation, to avoid shipment returns or customs detention.

Second, closely monitor carrier and customs policy updates, as logistics providers may continue adjusting operational requirements during the implementation phase of the new regulations.

Third, verify intellectual property authorizations before shipping branded products to reduce the risk of infringement-related seizures.

Finally, allow additional lead time for transportation and customs clearance, as increased inspection rates may result in longer transit times and clearance delays.