Non-EU air travel allowance to rise to EUR 500

Travellers entering the EU from third countries will be allowed to import duty free goods up to a monetary thresold of EUR 500 (ppreviously EUR 175) for air travel and EUR 200 for other travel, following a decision by the European Commission.

The proposals aims to avoid inconvenience in declaring goods of relatively limited value and to reduce the administrative burdens for Member States.

As well as increasing the monetary threshold, the proposal will abolish the quantitative limits on perfume, coffee and tea; introduce a new quantitative limit on beer (currently the only alcoholic beverage without such a limit); and will allow member states to cut the amount of tobacco allowed into the country from third countries.