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7 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 25 SEPTEMBER 2026 NEWS Paddle for Hope charity kayak challenge to raise funds for Malta Community Chest Fund A charity kayak challenge will be held in Gozo on Saturday, 3 October, to raise funds for the Malta Community Chest Fund. The event, titled Paddle for Hope – Making Waves, has been organised by a local resident cur- rently undergoing treatment for Stage 4 ovarian cancer. Participants will set off from Hondoq Bay at 9.30am, kayak- ing to Comino and, weather and sea conditions permitting, cir- cumnavigating the island before returning to Hondoq. The route covers approximately 8.5 kilo- metres. The challenge is open to people of all abilities, with Kayak Gozo providing guidance on the water, alongside safety support and sea marshals. The fundraising activities will continue at Hondoq from 2pm, with live music, entertainment and a Donate to Win raffle fea- turing prizes donated by local businesses and supporters. The organiser said the event aims to raise funds and aware- ness while bringing people to- gether and supporting the Malta Community Chest Fund. Those wishing to take part can contact the organiser on 7700 8384. Donations can be made through the dedicated Paddle for Hope – Making Waves fund- raising page for the Malta Com- munity Chest Fund: https://mc- cf.store/info/34. Beat the November rush: €2 handling fee on non-EU parcel imports arrives soon The charge is separate from the EU-wide €3 temporary duty introduced on 1 July and is designed to cover the costs customs authorities incur in processing small parcels THINKING of ordering for Christmas? Don't wait until No- vember, or you'll face an addi- tional handling fee set to be im- posed on every low-value item imported from outside the EU. The EU-imposed fee, known as the 'union handling fee' is expect- ed to be €2, MaltaPost confirmed to MaltaToday. The charge is separate from the EU-wide €3 temporary duty introduced on 1 July and is de- signed to cover the costs customs authorities incur in processing small parcels. "On top of the €3 introduced in July, you also have to pay VAT. Now from November of this year, the EU will introduce another €2 charge," a MaltaPost representa- tive told MaltaToday. It is unclear as yet whether the additional €2 handling fee will apply per item or product type. The new Union Customs Code, published on 19 September, es- tablishes the legal basis for both charges. The €3 duty is tempo- rary and applies until July 2028, when standard customs duties resume. The €2 handling fee is designed to become permanent infrastructure as the EU Customs Data Hub becomes fully opera- tional. The reform is set to modernise the EU customs system, making it more digital, data-driven and responsive to international trade challenges. It will help customs address geopolitical risks, e-com- merce growth and rising demand for consumer protection. Central to the reform are a modernised Union Customs Code (UCC) and the EU Customs Authority (EU- CA). The new EU Customs Author- ity, based in Lille and established on 20 September, will oversee the system's implementation. The authority is also developing the EU Customs Data Hub, a cen- tralised IT system to replace frag- mented national customs data- bases, expected to be operational for e-commerce from 1 July 2028. The Data Hub will gradually re- place existing national customs IT systems, generating savings of close to €2.3 billion per year in operating costs for member states and €2.58 billion per year in administrative costs for eco- nomic operators. With the new union handling fee expected to take effect from 1 November, consumers plan- ning to buy Christmas gifts or other goods from outside the EU may want to consider bringing forward their purchases. Order- ing early could help shoppers avoid the new charge on par- cels entering the EU before the fee comes into effect, although delivery times and the date on which goods actually enter the EU should also be taken into ac- count. JULIANA ZAMMIT jzammit@mediatoday.com.mt The charge is separate from the EU-wide €3 temporary duty introduced on 1 July and is designed to cover the costs customs authorities incur in processing small parcels The challenge is open to people of all abilities (File photo)

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