The new rules on the tax and duty-free imports aim to benefit travelers importing goods into the EU at the same time as reducing administrative costs for the European Union.
“Today’s entry into force of new thresholds in duty-free travellers’ allowances is good news for European travelers,” said Taxation and Customs Union commissioner Laszio Kovacs.
Likewise, the news will also be well received by personal care and fragrance producers, who have long been campaigning to have the duty imposed on travellers into the European Union relaxed.
Easier times for personal care
This is likely to be particularly beneficial to international makers of luxury personal care products and fragrances, which are often top of the shopping list when consumers make trips outside of the European Union.
As far as the European Union is concerned, personal care and fragrance products are classed as consumer goods, as are toys, electronic goods and soft drinks such as coffee and tea.
The new ruling means that air and sea travellers will be able to import personal care and fragrances to the value of €430, while other travellers, which includes those by land, will be limited to imports to the value of €300.
Monetary limits for personal care
More liberal rules governing the importation of fuel, alcoholic beverages and tobacco have also been introduced.
The difference in how the different product categories have been regulated is that for personal care products, the importation limit has been governed in monetary terms, whereas for fuel, cigarettes and alcohol the new limits are in volume terms.
Likewise, the same exceptional rules on VAT and excise duty still apply for territories where this type of taxation does not exist, including the Channel Islands, the Canary Islands and the French overseas departments.