Post by bickern on Dec 13, 2008 0:23:14 GMT 2
From 1 December 2008, new rules on tax and duty free imports enter into force.
Travellers will benefit from cost savings when importing goods into the EU in their personal luggage.
At the same time, Member States will avoid administrative costs currently involved in collecting small amounts of duties and taxes.
Taxation and Customs Union Commissioner László Kovács said: "Today's entry into force of new thresholds in duty-free travellers' allowances is good news for European travellers.
Many of the previous rules, which have been in place since 1969, were no longer relevant to today's world.
From today, citizens will benefit from a nearly doubled monetary threshold and more generously calculated limits for certain beverages when importing goods in their personal luggage into the European Union.
At the same time, due to the increased monetary thresholds Member States will avoid administrative costs currently involved in collecting small amounts of import duties and taxes."
Travellers' allowances are the monetary thresholds or the quantitative limits under which travellers entering the EU from third countries are allowed to import duty free in their personal luggage.
From 1 December 2008 onwards, the new rules will:
1. Increase the current monetary threshold from £145 (€ 175) to £340 (€ 430) for air and sea travellers and to £240 (€ 300) for land and inland waterways travellers.
2. The lower threshold for the latter takes account of the special situation of Member States that have land borders with countries where prices are significantly lower than in the EU.
3. Abolish the quantitative limits on perfume, eau de toilette, coffee and tea (which means that such items will come under the monetary threshold).
4. Increase the quantitative limit for still wine from 2 to 4 litres.
5. Introduce a quantitative limit of 16 litres for beer imports – there was no limit before.
6. Give Member States the option of reducing the quantitative limits on tobacco products (e.g. for cigarettes: from 200 to 40) in support of health policies. The UK limits are:
• 200 cigarettes, OR
• 100 cigarillos, OR
• 50 cigars, OR
• 250g smoking tobacco
Or any combination of the above e.g. 100 cigarettes (50%), along with 25 cigars (50%) to make up their full 100% individual allowance.
Travellers will benefit from cost savings when importing goods into the EU in their personal luggage.
At the same time, Member States will avoid administrative costs currently involved in collecting small amounts of duties and taxes.
Taxation and Customs Union Commissioner László Kovács said: "Today's entry into force of new thresholds in duty-free travellers' allowances is good news for European travellers.
Many of the previous rules, which have been in place since 1969, were no longer relevant to today's world.
From today, citizens will benefit from a nearly doubled monetary threshold and more generously calculated limits for certain beverages when importing goods in their personal luggage into the European Union.
At the same time, due to the increased monetary thresholds Member States will avoid administrative costs currently involved in collecting small amounts of import duties and taxes."
Travellers' allowances are the monetary thresholds or the quantitative limits under which travellers entering the EU from third countries are allowed to import duty free in their personal luggage.
From 1 December 2008 onwards, the new rules will:
1. Increase the current monetary threshold from £145 (€ 175) to £340 (€ 430) for air and sea travellers and to £240 (€ 300) for land and inland waterways travellers.
2. The lower threshold for the latter takes account of the special situation of Member States that have land borders with countries where prices are significantly lower than in the EU.
3. Abolish the quantitative limits on perfume, eau de toilette, coffee and tea (which means that such items will come under the monetary threshold).
4. Increase the quantitative limit for still wine from 2 to 4 litres.
5. Introduce a quantitative limit of 16 litres for beer imports – there was no limit before.
6. Give Member States the option of reducing the quantitative limits on tobacco products (e.g. for cigarettes: from 200 to 40) in support of health policies. The UK limits are:
• 200 cigarettes, OR
• 100 cigarillos, OR
• 50 cigars, OR
• 250g smoking tobacco
Or any combination of the above e.g. 100 cigarettes (50%), along with 25 cigars (50%) to make up their full 100% individual allowance.