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European subscription FAQs

What is changing with magazines dispatched to Europe?

From 1 July 2026 an additional customs duty of €3 per delivery impacts magazines delivered to EU countries from outside the EU.

What is happening with my DC Thomson magazine subscription delivered to Europe?

The impact on DC Thomson magazine subscriptions varies by title.

  • Beano and The People's Friend: Subscription copies for delivery to Europe will be printed and dispatched from within the EU.
  • The Scots Magazine: Subscription copies for delivery to Europe continue to be dispatched from the UK.
  • bunkered, Commando, The People's Friend Special, The People's Friend Pocket Novel and My Weekly: Subscriptions for delivery to Europe will no longer be available, with immediate effect.
  • Puzzler (all titles): Existing subscriptions continue as normal. Delivery to Europe for new and renewing customers is currently unavailable. We continue to review future arrangements for Europe delivery.

        Do I need to pay the €3 duty on delivery?

        No. Customers receiving magazines in Europe do not need to pay a separate €3 fee on delivery.

        Where can I read about the €3 duty?

        The European Commission published this article ("Ensuring fairness and safety: €3 customs duty for low-value parcels") on their website on 29 June 2026.

        Doesn’t the €3 duty target e-commerce parcels? Why are magazines impacted?

        Through membership of the Professional Publishers Association (PPA), DC Thomson has contributed to discussion about the application of this duty to magazines.

        You can read an open letter to the UK Chancellor signed by the PPA here ("PPA calls on the Government for an exemption from new EU customs").

        Why is the price of my Europe subscription changing?

        We’ve been working hard to find a way to continue providing subscriptions for delivery to Europe and to minimise the impact of these changes.

        We’re pleased to be able to put in place arrangements for some titles: Beano, The People’s Friend and The Scots Magazine.

        Unfortunately, these changes have still increased costs. Even where production and distribution will move to the EU, we have implemented a separate, smaller, printing operation, which makes things more expensive.

        If you have a current Beano, The People’s Friend or The Scots Magazine subscription with delivery to Europe, it continues at its existing price until your renewal. We are absorbing additional costs in the meantime. When the time comes, you can choose whether to allow your subscription to continue.

        Where delivery to Europe continues, will these changes impact delivery reliability?

        For Beano and The People’s Friend, copies for delivery to Europe (excluding the UK) will begin to be dispatched from within the EU in the coming weeks, which may mean deliveries reach some Europe-based subscribers earlier than they would normally.

        If you have any delivery problems you can report a missing or damaged copy by managing your subscription online.

        My delivery address is in Europe but not the EU, why am I impacted?

        To keep administration and fulfilment processes manageable, we have applied a consistent approach to subscriptions delivered to Europe outside the UK.

        What are the alternatives to paying more for delivery to Europe? or How can I still access my magazine even though delivery to Europe has stopped?

        We offer digital subscriptions for Beano, Commando, The People's Friend, The People's Friend Special, The People's Friend Pocket Novel, The Scots Magazine and My Weekly. Click on the relevant link to find out more.

        Digital subscriptions for bunkered are expected to be available soon.

        Can I get a refund?

        Where we have ceased delivery of a title to a destination country and subscribers have paid-for issues remaining, we have written to the bill payer to explain their options. In some cases we can offer digital access, but a refund is available as an alternative.

        I only bought my subscription recently. Why was my subscription offered?

        Customers have been prevented from purchasing or renewing subscriptions for delivery to Europe since the beginning of June 2026.

        We did everything we could to explore continuing to send the magazines to Europe and didn’t finalise our decision until all avenues had been pursued.

        Why is the publisher of another magazine I receive from the UK taking different action?

        Other publishers may have different production, fulfilment and distribution arrangements, so their response to these changes may differ.

        If you have a question about a magazine that isn’t published by DC Thomson, please contact the publisher directly.

         

        Content on this page last reviewed or updated: 20 July 2026
        Content on this page next due for review: 20 Aug 2026