Customs and import inside the EU
Last updated: 11 September 2026
Goods moving between EU member states are in free circulation within the single market, which is why an intra-EU parcel is not assessed at a border the way an import from outside would be. For a temperature-sensitive product this is a logistics property, not a legal footnote.
Free circulation, in practice
A shipment dispatched in Czechia and delivered in Spain — or any of the markets we deliver to — does not cross an external EU border, so there is no customs entry, no duty assessment and no import hold. It travels as a domestic-equivalent parcel on a courier network.
This is why we quote delivery windows with reasonable confidence. The largest source of variance in cross-border shipping — indefinite holds at a border — is not present.
Why it matters more for cold chain
A customs hold has no fixed duration. Cold-chain packaging is specified for a transit time, and an open-ended delay is precisely the scenario it cannot be designed around. Removing the possibility is more valuable than any amount of additional insulation.
It is also why we do not ship outside the EU rather than shipping and hoping.
What free circulation does not change
It concerns customs and duty, not product status. The regulatory position of a compound in a given member state is a separate question from whether a parcel clears a border, and free circulation does not confer authorisation on anything.
Island and outermost territories can also sit outside the customs union even when they are part of a member state, and some are not served. Where that applies it is noted on the relevant market page.
Frequently asked questions
Will I pay customs charges?
No. Shipments move within the EU single market and are not subject to customs assessment or import duty.
Why does this matter for a cold-chain parcel?
Because a customs hold has no fixed duration, and cold-chain packaging is specified for a transit time rather than an indefinite one.
Does free circulation mean the product is approved?
No. Customs status and regulatory authorisation are separate questions. Free circulation says nothing about whether a compound is authorised in a given market.
This page is educational and intended for research and informational use only. It is not medical advice, a treatment recommendation, or dosing guidance, and it makes no claims about outcomes. Body Pharm EU supplies research-grade materials for laboratory use. These statements have not been evaluated by the EMA.