BSI Merch Boosts Berlin Hub Ahead of EU Duty Changes

UK-headquartered music merchandise and e-commerce company BSI Merch & Artist Services (BSI) is expanding its Berlin office and fulfillment center ahead of new EU customs duty changes that will come into force on July 1, 2026. BSI’s e-commerce clients include Kneecap, Frank Turner, Laura Marling, AIR, Franz Ferdinand and more.

Why it matters:

• From July 1 the EU will introduce a fixed €3 customs duty on low-value parcels (under €150) entering the EU from non-EU territories.

• The €3 duty applies per item type within a consignment, not per parcel, meaning multi-item purchases may trigger multiple charges.

• BSI explains this is in addition to the proposed €2 Customs Handling Fee which it says is likely to be introduced in November 2026.

• BSI says these per-item charges “risk creating a number of prohibitive sales and delivery barriers,” such as increased landed costs, unexpected delivery fees for fans, cart abandonment and slower customs clearance.

The solution:

• By expanding its German hub, inventory can be stored in, and fulfilled directly from, Berlin, meaning UK BSI clients can ship EU customer orders domestically within the EU, avoiding UK-to-EU import procedures and charges.

• Delivery will also be faster, fans will avoid surprise fees on delivery, and returns will be simplified with an EU address.

• BSI says that running operations from within the EU also enables it to manage the EU VAT element directly, “simplifying compliance for UK partners navigating post-Brexit trade complexity.”

• This “removes the administrative burden of cross-border VAT registration, reporting and payment.”

What they said:

• Andy Allen, Founder and CEO of BSI: “For UK music businesses, July 2026 isn’t just a regulatory change, it’s a margin and conversion issue. When a fan in Germany or France orders a bundle and gets hit with multiple import charges at delivery, that impacts trust and future purchasing behavior. By fulfilling orders from Berlin, we remove that friction entirely. Our clients can continue selling into the EU with clarity, speed and confidence, without the need to re-engineer their entire operation.”