EU CUSTOMS LAW REFORM: WHAT THE CUSTOMS DATA HUB WILL BRING

December 1, 2025 – “The current customs landscape in Europe is characterized by national IT systems, differing legal interpretations, and fragmented data flows. This structure leads to inefficiencies, increased control costs, and a high susceptibility to fraud,” explains Tim Mayer, Head of Training & Consulting at SW Zoll-Beratung GmbH in Bremen.

The EU now wants to put an end to this. A data-based, event-driven platform – the EU Customs Data Hub – is intended to standardize, automate, and streamline customs processes by 2028. 

Customs experts explain what this means and what the core functions of the Data Hub are. 

Efficient interfaces, protection of sensitive data 

The EU Customs Data Hub is designed to fulfill four key functions:

• Customs clearance: Digital support for control measures, tax collection, and the application of special procedures
• Connectivity: Real-time data exchange between businesses, authorities, and logistics systems
• Collaboration: Integration of all relevant authorities for joint decision-making
• Data excellence: Use of big data and AI for risk analysis and transparency in supply chains

The implementation of the Data Hub is based on four technical pillars:

• Data security and operation: Protection of sensitive data through modern security concepts.
• Data model and linking: Development of flexible data structures for the integration of external information.
• Processing and lifecycle: Event-based data processing with a high degree of automation.
• Data exchange: Efficient interfaces for data provision and retrieval.

“The biggest challenge lies in linking heterogeneous data sources. Economic operators provide information in different formats, which until now has been manually converted into customs structures,” explains customs specialist Mayer. 
Intelligent mapping between external trade data and internal customs models is required – ideally supported by artificial intelligence.

Setting the course for smooth customs processes

Identifying related data streams also poses a hurdle. “Concepts such as MRN or UCR are helpful, but not always practical. AI-based linking mechanisms could open up new avenues here, provided that a sufficiently large and high-quality database is available.”

At System Alliance Europe, the course has been set for smooth customs processes in cross-border goods traffic. The digitization, standardization, and automation of shipment-related information processes within the alliance already enable perfect synchronization of the flow of goods and data among all SAE partners involved. With the new LogWorld IT platform, which will be launched in the coming weeks, SAE is reaching another milestone for smooth collaboration between players in the supply chain. 

The seriousness with which the EU is approaching the rapid reform of customs law is demonstrated by a piece of news that has been circulating in recent days: in order to stem the flood of cheap products from Asia that are inundating the European market, the duty-free limit for e-commerce shipments, which previously applied to parcels with a value of up to €150, is to be abolished as early as 2026.