Italian Customs

[Paddwood]

Morning,

Anyone got any experience of an item going through a customs check in Italy? I sent an item to Italy that they've had since 1st September, stuck in 'pending'.

[Snaggletooth]

There was no way tell if the fault lay with customs, the postal service or both, but Italy used to be notorious for taking a long time to deliver parcels.

[Paddwood]

Two weeks they've had it now

[yubin282]

The Italian postal service is notoriously bad, I'm sure I read somewhere that all their international mail travels through Switzerland first.

[Paddwood]

No idea, the only update since Sept 1st is that it's at Milano Roserio CSI, which I've seen is Poste Italiane's sorting centre, with online comments confirming that it's a complete mess there.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I asked the AI chatbot, and its reply was

Yes, there are reports of delays at Italian customs specifically at the Milano Roserio CSI (Centro Scambi Internazionale) facility, which is a major international mail sorting and customs processing center operated by Poste Italiane in Milan. This location (often referenced as ITMILR in tracking systems) handles international parcels and shipments, and delays here are a common issue due to customs clearance processes, incomplete documentation, high volumes, and strict regulations on imports like medications or goods from non-EU countries.

### Key Details on Reported Delays:
- **General Nature of Delays**: Italian customs at facilities like Milano Roserio CSI can take 7–15 days or longer for clearance, even for small personal shipments. This is exacerbated by requirements for proper documentation, VAT/tax assessments, and inspections. The U.S. State Department notes that all medication shipments (even small personal amounts) must be cleared here, with delays being "common."
- **Recent Examples (2024–2025)**:
- A package from Russia arrived at ITMILR (Milano Roserio CSI) around late August 2024 and was stuck for nearly two weeks before clearance, with the recipient apologizing for the delay in an update.
- In August 2024, a shipment from India (tracking RM773703429IN) has been held at Milano Roserio CSI customs since August 3, with users unable to contact authorities for updates, leading to ongoing delays.
- Broader Italian postal issues, including at CSI centers like Milano Roserio, involve parcels remaining "stuck" for weeks due to customs holds, as seen in complaints about international services like PACCO FREE INTERNAZIONALE.
- **No Major Outbreaks in September 2025**: Searches for real-time or recent reports (since September 1, 2025) did not uncover widespread disruptions specific to this site, such as strikes or backlogs. However, routine delays persist, and general advisories warn of up to one-week holds for international parcels in Italy. If your shipment is affected, contacting Poste Italiane or the customs office directly is recommended, though response times can vary.

For tracking or inquiries, use Poste Italiane's website or app with your shipment number. If this relates to a specific package, provide more details for further assistance.