Duty-free cheer for EU travellers
New duty-free allowances in force from today more than double the value of personal goods European residents can bring back after travelling outside the EU.
The amount of wine that can be brought in has been increased, too, from two to four litres, as well one litre of other spirits and 16 litres of beer.
But, in a nod to health concerns over smoking, the EU regulations give national authorities the option to reduce the duty-free tobacco allowance from 200 cigarettes and 250 grams of tobacco to just 40 cigarettes and 50 grams of tobacco.
The current cash limit on personal good brought in duty-free is €175, but that goes up to €430.
EU Tax and Customs Commissioner Laszlo Kovacs commented: “Today’s entry into force of new thresholds for 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 in today’s world.”
The new rules abolish existing limits on the volume of perfume, coffee and tea which can be imported duty-free, but those items now count towards the new cash limit on the value of personal goods, such as toiletries, toys and electronic goods, which can be imported by air and sea travellers without paying duty.
For travellers crossing borders by car or along inland waterways, the maximum cash value is set lower, at €300, to take account of the situation of EU countries which have land borders with non-EU countries where prices are significantly lower than within the Union.
