New rules to restrict cigarettes brought into Ireland from certain EU countries
If travellers from Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania, bring more than 300 cigarettes into Ireland, they must now declare this to a Revenue official and pay the correct excise duty
Print10 January 2014
Under new regulations in place since 1 January 2014, travellers from Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania will not be permitted to bring more than 300 cigarettes (for personal use) back with them.
If a person has more than 300 cigarettes they must declare that to a Revenue Official and pay the appropriate excise duty. The measure only relates to cigarettes.
The Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA) reports it is "pleased to note" the new legislation has been introduced as this is an issue it had previously discussed with the government.
The CSNA said it has "consistently pointed out to the Department of Finance, Revenue and the Department of Health the anomaly that existed in Ireland where there were no real sanctions or disincentives to "tobacco tourists" purchasing products in low-cost EU countries and re-selling those products in Ireland.
"Recent changes in profiling certain types and styles of smuggling has led Customs to accept our point of view that a significant number of "tourists" were in fact "ant smugglers" on day trips from Ireland to fulfil local ‘orders’."
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