new uk guidelines

[gji25]

just to let everyone know if they are not already aware that the recomended allowance for bringing back cigarettes and handrolling tobacco from the eu is now 20 packs of loose hand rolling tobacco (used to be 60) and 800 cigarettes (used to be 3200) this came into effect from the 1/10/2011

[andy1964]

I don't smoke but as with cigs, tobacco, beer , wines, spirits and to an extent petrol and diesel, if we weren't ripped off so much by the government then the need to bring in excess 'luxuries' wouldn't be an issue

[G77]

Originally Posted by gji25

recomended allowance

do i have to take there recommendation?

[Rick]

Originally Posted by G77

do i have to take there recommendation?

No, but they don't have to proove anything before they sieze and destroy whatever you have brought in.

[cupid stunt]

Still no allowance on beer ???

Sweet

[lincsat]

Yep, Customs deciding to further ignore an EU law that actually benefits the average Citizen.

[gji25]

Originally Posted by G77

do i have to take there recommendation?

no you dont have to take there recomendation, but if your are over the said recomended allowance then you have to convince the customs that they are for your own personal consumption

[nibblitz]

I suppose the only way to convince a customs official that the 4000 cigarettes & 100x 50g Pouches you have are purely for personal use would be to stand there constantly coughing, hacking & wheezing and occasionally spitting parts of your lungs out in his face...

[Robbo]

4000 cigs I think is easily justifyable for personal consumption, depending on how frequent the visits were to purchase them. 4000 cigs is approx 6 months worth for 20 a day. No idea how long pouches last, but I suppose if you make big splifs out of them, it could be gone quite quickly.


Taken from the HMRC website

Customs checks when coming from the EU
If a customs official from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) thinks you may be bringing in excise goods such as alcohol and tobacco from the EU for commercial use - perhaps to sell to other people or simply for reimbursement - they may ask you questions and make checks. You may be asked about:
the type and quantity of goods you've bought
why you bought them
how you paid for them
how often you travel
how much you normally smoke or drink
Although there are no limits on the amount of alcohol and tobacco you can bring in from EU countries, customs officials are more likely to ask you questions if you have more than the following:
Goods brought to the UK from the European Union
Until 30 September 2011 From 1 October 2011
Cigarettes 3,200 800
.... the list goes on..


If the UKBA is satisfied that the goods are for a commercial purpose it may seize them and any vehicle used to transport them, and may not return them to you. You can find out more in the guide 'What to do if your goods are seized by customs' under 'More useful links'.

[pgale]

Originally Posted by gji25

just to let everyone know if they are not already aware that the recomended allowance for bringing back cigarettes and handrolling tobacco from the eu is now 20 packs of loose hand rolling tobacco (used to be 60) and 800 cigarettes (used to be 3200) this came into effect from the 1/10/2011

Just been on the web site HMRC, I've just come back from Bulgaria with my quota of 3200 fags, 40 rolling tabacco. They scan your bags and they know what you have. So it's awaste of their time to search you.
HMRC resouces are predominately waiting for the Nigerian and Carribean flights and some from the far east to worry about a few fags. see below

Technically borderless, with an open policy of freedom, citizens and travellers can pass now with little formality throughout the EU (European Union).

However, the transfer of goods for personal use, while getting a lot better, is still subject to being taxed in one way or another.

Remember, all the core duty free and tax paid rules and regulations apply only if you are travelling with the items you have bought. The following are classed as DUTY FREE: Liquor, Tobacco and Perfume. All other items are classed as TAX FREE.

Flying within the European Union.
You do not have to pay any tax or duty on goods you have bought in another EU country as long as tax was included in the price when you purchased the item. The item must be for your own personal use, and not for re-sale.

From Dec 1 2008 you have been able to 'mix and match' products in both the alcohol and tobacco categories, provided you do not exceed your total allowance.

The current (2011) duty and tax free allowances when travelling from another EU country to the UK are:

3200 cigarettes
400 cigarillos
200 cigars
3 kg of smoking tobacco
110 litres of beer
10 litres of spirits
90 litres of wine
20 litres of fortified wine e.g. port or sherry.


The 27 current EU member countries with these duty free allowance regulations are:Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus (not northern Turkish region), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany ,Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (but excluding the Canary Islands), Sweden, United Kingdom (excluding Channel Islands).

Croatia, Turkey and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are the current candidate countries wishing to join.

If you are flying outside the European Union you are entitled to your full allowance of goods at Tax Free and Duty Free prices.

Flying from outside the EU to the UK
If you are flying into the EU from outside the Euro Zone you are allowed to bring in the following, from January 1st 2010, provided you travel with the items and do not intend to sell them.

200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g of tobacco
4 litres of still table wine
1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22% volume or 2 litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine or other liqueurs
16 litres of beer
60 cc/ml of perfume
£390 worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs