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Travelers in the EU benefit from other countries is now of higher savings, if the importation of goods into the European Union in their personal luggage. The Member States have also reduced administrative costs by waiving the collection of relatively small amounts. Travellers' allowances, the thresholds or the quantitative limits under which the entry into the EU from third countries may import and tax free in their personal luggage.

The rules in force since 1 December 2008,

• increased the current monetary threshold from €175 to €430 for air and sea travellers and to €300 for land and inland waterways travellers; 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;
• abolished the quantitative limits on perfume, eau de toilette, coffee and tea (which means that such items now come under the monetary threshold);
• increased the quantitative limit for still wine from 2 to 4 litres;
• introduced a quantitative limit of 16 litres on beer imports (only for VAT and excise duties given that beer is customs free);
• given 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.

As an example, an air arriving travelers to the EU from a country outside the EU were 200 cigarette taxes, free, one liter of spirits, four liters of wine, 16 liters of beer and 430 € import of other goods (toys, perfumes, electronic equipment, etc.). Taxes and duties will be applied to the value of goods exceeding those limits. However, the value of a single position can not be divided.

Niamh-Allan

Have any changes been done in the rules of import in travel after 2008.