Italy – Ongoing customs clearance disruption for inbound non-EU volumes and national strike

[November 3, 2026] Further to EmIS 198/2026, the designated operator of Italy, Poste Italiane, wishes to inform Union member countries and their designated operators that it continues to experience reduced compliance with the applicable service level agreement for the customs clearance of items arriving from non-EU countries, following changes to the Italian Customs Agency's IT systems introduced on 11 October 2026.

Since that date, Poste Italiane has taken prompt action to mitigate the impact of these issues and facilitate the gradual processing of items awaiting customs clearance. However, further anomalies affecting the customs clearance process have prevented the compliant receipt of the customs assessments required to release items. As a result, customs clearance operations are suspended.

Following consultations with the Italian Customs Agency and the implementation of various corrective measures within its systems, Poste Italiane is currently verifying the effectiveness of the solutions introduced and assessing the conditions for the gradual resumption of customs clearance operations.

Consequently, items arriving from non-EU countries have progressively accumulated within Poste Italiane's international network, resulting in a significant backlog of items awaiting customs clearance. To prevent further saturation of its facilities, Poste Italiane has instructed its airmail units to temporarily hold incoming mail flows from non-EU countries, pending the restoration of full customs clearance functionality and the gradual reduction of the accumulated backlog. This measure remains in effect until further notice.

In addition, Poste Italiane wishes to inform member countries that a national strike called by labour unions for the entire day of 30 October 2026 may cause further delays in the processing and delivery of both domestic and international postal items. Poste Italiane has adopted all necessary measures to minimize the impact of this industrial action.

Although every effort is being made to mitigate the effects of these circumstances, Poste Italiane is not currently in a position to indicate a date for the full restoration of customs clearance operations or the complete processing of the accumulated backlog