Personal imports of cigarettes to be relaxed in Europe, but not for the Finns

"Language clause" will remain in effect

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As of the beginning of next year, the import restrictions on cigarettes from EU countries having a low level of excise duty on tobacco will be restricted.
      However, the Finns will not in practice benefit from the relaxation in the EU rules.
      Under Finnish law it will still only be possible to import 200 cigarettes (or one carton) without paying duty at this end, if the cigarette packs are not equipped with the necessary warning labels in Finnish and Swedish (see image on article from May 2009).
      A similar "language clause" is in effect in Austria as well as here in Finland.
     
Citizens of other "old" EU member-states will be able to bring in unlimited amounts of cigarettes for personal use from EU countries from January 1st.
      The countries with low tobacco duties will have raised their excise levels by this time to the required EUR 64 per 1,000 cigarettes.
      The situation will benefit smokers from countries that have a high level of taxation on tobacco - for example Sweden, Germany, Britain, and Ireland.
     
The finance ministers of the EU countries also decided in Brussels on Tuesday that from 2014 onwards the tobacco tax should be increased across the Union to a minimum of EUR 90 per 1,000 cigarettes.
      The Baltic States, Greece, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania will, however, be granted a transition period up to 2018 to comply.
      The countries already levying the higher tax will be able during the four-year grace period to enforce a new personal import restriction of 300 cigarettes.
      In the case of Finland, personal imports are quite likely to be limited to 200 cigarettes a head, even during the transition period from 2014-2018.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Cigarette personal import limits upheld but with altered reasoning (20.5.2009)
  Finland considers further tightening of Tobacco Act (5.2.2009)

See also:
  Government wants to ban smoking at open-air concerts and sports events (5.10.2009)

Links:
  European Council press release 10.11.2009 (.pdf file)

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