EU Customs

Arriving

Duty Free Allowances
If its for your own personal use, there is no further tax to be paid on goods you have bought in the EU. Personal use indicates gifts, but if you are receiving any payment in return for buying alcohol and tobacco (such as help with travelling expenses) the transaction will be dutiable and you should contact HM Customs and Excise to arrange to pay the duty due.
There is no limit to the value of goods brought into the UK that have originated in the EU as long as they are for personal use only.

HM Customs sets out guidelines for personal use. If you decide to ignore these guidelines and bring more than amounts in the guide levels, you must be able to show that the goods are for your personal use. People under the age of 17 are not entitled to the Tobacco or Alcohol Allowance.

From some EU countries there are limits on the amount of tobacco products you can bring back. These are;

*  Czech Republic 200 cigarettes, 250, smoking tobacco, 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos
*  Estonia 200 cigarettes or 250g smoking tobacco*
*  Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia or Slovenia 200 cigarettes*

* There is no limit on other tobacco products as long as they are for personal use.

Customs Procedures
Please use the Blue Channel when travelling to the UK directly from another EU Country unless you have something to declare.

If you have something to declare in excess of the above allowances go to the Red Channel.
If you have nothing to declare you do not need to go through a red or green channel - at Manchester Airport you will leave through the blue exit.

BUT

Customs carry out selective checks to look for the following prohibited (that is banned) or restricted goods:

Customs carry out selective checks to look for the following prohibited (that is banned) or restricted goods.

* Drugs

* Firearms and ammunition

* Offensive Weapons (such as flick knives)

* Obscene Materials

* Indecent and Obscene material featuring children

* Items that threaten health and the environment

Any traveller coming into the UK could still be asked some questions to help protect the UK against illegal import of these items. HM Customs and Excise needs your help to prevent smuggling.

Meat Food and Plants
There are strict controls on the import of meat food and plants and the guidelines should be adhered to, if you bring items that are not allowed or exceed the allowances there are penalties. To check allowances please visit www.defra.gov.uk

Departing

Duty Free Allowances
Liquor, tobacco and pure perfume are classed as duty free items and cannot be purchased when travelling to an EU destination. However, liquor and tobacco are available at duty paid prices which are equivalent to high street prices.
All other items are classed as tax free.