Cigarette restrictions for travellers returning from Bulgaria and Romania

The Government today announced the introduction of restrictions on the amount of tax and duty paid on cigarettes purchased for own use that travellers from Bulgaria and Romania can bring back into the UK without paying UK duty.

Under their accession agreements, Bulgaria and Romania are allowed transitional periods in which to meet EU minimum duty rates on cigarettes. However, until these rates are reached, other EU member states are entitled to maintain the restrictions currently applied to travellers arriving from outside the EU. While the minimum duty rates are not met, concerns and uncertainties over the impact of EU enlargement on excise smuggling and cross-border shopping are heightened, and therefore the UK has decided to maintain the restrictions. The restrictions are as follows:

* 200 cigarettes from Bulgaria and Romania

Any cigarettes brought back by travellers in excess of the limits will be subject to UK duty. If the excess is not declared to UK Customs, all of the cigarettes could be seized. The restrictions reflect the current limits on cigarettes for travellers arriving in the UK from countries outside the EU. For all other tobacco products, the usual rules for EU travellers apply and there is no limit on bringing back those goods as long as these are for the person's own use.