Double duty-free allowance for travellers returning to the UK

Travellers can now bring back more than double the amount of gifts and souvenirs from outside the EU without paying UK duty.

From today, the tax and duty-free allowance increases from £145 to £300, with a further increase to £340 in January to take account of recent changes in the sterling/euro exchange rate.

Following a proposal from the then Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown to the European Commission in 2004, the Government is today announcing an increase to the allowance for what are known as 'other goods', which includes souvenirs, clothing, electrical goods and perfume.

Travellers and holiday makers will also be able to bring back more alcohol, with a new allowance for beer of 16 litres and a doubling in the allowance of still wine, from two to four litres.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Timms, said today: "This new rate for all EU member states will be a welcome boost to holiday makers and all others travelling outside the EU. The changes stem from an initiative by the then Chancellor, Gordon Brown, and demonstrate the benefits of the UK working at the heart of Europe."