New rules for travellers' allowances into the EU from 1 December 2008

Brussels, 1 December 2008. New rules have come into force that will now allow travellers entering the EU from third countries to import duty free in their personal luggage larger amounts of alcohol.

The new rules increase the current monetary threshold from € 175 to € 430 for air and sea travellers. Europeans travelling by road or river are given a lower allowance — only up to €300 — to dissuade EU citizens from buying cheaper goods in neighbouring non-EU countries.

Wine allowances have been doubled from two litres to four litres. A limit of 16 litres of beer has been introduced.

The quantitative limits on perfume, eau de toilette, coffee and tea (which means that such items will come under the monetary threshold) have been abolished.

The amount of tobacco that travellers can bring into the 27-nation bloc will not increase. Member states have been given the option to either stick with the 200 cigarette limit or to reduce it “in support of health policies”.

Among the countries that have opted for a 200 cigarette limit are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Britain, Spain and the Czech Republic.

Greece and Hungary will allow those higher limits for air travellers only.

The other EU countries have moved to lower the limits to 40 cigarettes in an effort to curb smoking.

Laszlo Kovacs, the EU commissioner in charge of taxation and customs issues stated that the new changes are meant to allow travellers to avoid the hassle of declaring goods of limited value and cut red tape for customs officers at border points.

The same rules apply if travellers come from territories where EU rules on VAT and excise do not apply, such as the Canary Islands, the Channel Islands, the French overseas departments, the Aland Islands and Gibraltar.

Here a summary:

	First option	Second Option
Tobacco products	200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco	40 cigarettes or 20 cigarillos or 10 cigars or 50 grams of tobacco
Alcoholic drinks	- A total of 1 litre of alcohol and alcoholic beverages of an alcoholic strength exceeding 22 % vol, or undenatured ethyl alcohol of 80 % vol and over, or a total of 2 litres of alcohol and alcoholic beverages of an alcoholic strength not exceeding 22 % vol. - Additionally, a total of 4 litres of still wine and up to 16 litres of beer (only for VAT and excise duty).
Fuel	In any one means of motor transport, the fuel contained in the standard tank and a quantity of fuel not exceeding 10 litres contained in a portable container.
Any other goods including perfume, coffee or tea	Up to a value of 430 Euro for air and sea travellers Up to a value of 300 Euro for other travellers

For instance, in the best case, air travellers can import duty-free 200 cigarettes, 1 litre of spirits, 4 litres of wine, 16 litres of beer and 430 € of other goods (toys, perfume, electronic devices...). Taxes and customs duties will be applied to the value of goods exceeding those limits. However, the value of an individual item may not be split up.

Background

Today's new rules are based on a Commission proposal to renew the provisions on duty-free travellers' allowances (see IP/06/238).

EU legislation concerning allowances for travellers is covered by article 45 of Regulation 918/83, as far as customs duties are concerned, and by Directive 2007/74/EC, as far as VAT and excise duties are concerned.

Commission's press release

For background information on traveller's allowances, click here