Shopping on holiday

Travelling inside the European Union (25 countries), the entry and exit of goods and merchandise for personal needs are not subject to any form of limitation on quantity or value and happens with no formalities at the borders. A few exceptions (alcohol, tobacco...) are still subject to limitations. Additionally, taking in or out a sum over £6,000 must be declared at customs. Once through customs, before leaving the country the passenger can buy duty free goods limited to certain quantities in duty free shops. For countries outside the European Union, the duty exemptions a traveller over 17 years can benefit from are: alcoholic beverages of 2 litres of wine (0.44 gallon), either a litre of alcohol over 22% (0.22 gallon), or 2 litres of alcohol under 22% (0.44 gallon); tobacco, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 10 ounces of tobacco; 2 ounces of perfume, one litre of eau de toilette (0.22 gallon), 20 ounces of coffee, 4 ounces of tea. For other goods, there is no duty for valuables under 160 pounds for a person over 15 years old; and 75 pounds for younger children. These sums are not cumulative by several persons for one and only object. Therefore understand that any object with a value superior to the exemption is to be declared. In this case the passenger has to pay for duties and taxes on the total value of the object, with no deduction. Recommendation: bring with you the bills or any justifications concerning your photo-video-sound equipment and those concerning your valuable jewels. Additionally, certain goods are subject to particular formalities like wild animals and plants in danger of extinction protected by the Washington convention (appendices II and III), cultural goods, art works and national treasures, medicine and weapons and ammunitions. Since Act of 5 February 1994, counterfeiting is a crime. Basically, one counterfeited item found in your luggage, whatever its value, even personal, is enough to be arrested on charges of fraud by customs. Not only do they confiscate the counterfeited item, but you risk paying a fine based on the average value of the counterfeited object as well as being prosecuted which could end with three year prison sentence. Other than copies, some goods are strictly forbidden from importation, exportation, and detention are narcotics and animal species protected by the Washington Convention (appendix I) or any products that come from those species. On the Internet: www.fco.gov.uk