19 07 2008, 13 28 #23 TheFirstCut Inactive Member
Join Date Apr 2007 Location Proud European! Posts 7,123 Quote Originally Posted by Blofeld Estonia is a full EU and Schengen member.

I would imagine somewhere like Hungary, Bulgaria or Romania is the cheapest. Certainly I’ve bought back packets for friends from the first 2 and they were very cheap indeed, in 2006. Although, the cost of getting there is probably a bit more than to get to Spain, but you can get low cost flights to Budapest at least now very easilly. Problem is

From

“From some EU countries there are limits on the amount of tobacco products you can bring back without paying UK duty.

From ESTONIA 200 cigarettes or 250g of smoking tobacco

From BULGARIA, HUNGARY, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, POLAND, ROMANIA OR SLOVAKIA 200 cigarettes

No limit on other tobacco products as long as they are for your own use.”

Europa – press releases – press release – european commission calls on portugal to change its excise duty rules for cigarettes

Marlboro gold edges slims – marlboro cigarettes under $10 a carton

European Commission

Press release

Brussels, 21 June 2012

European Commission calls on Portugal to change its excise duty rules for cigarettes

The European Commission has officially asked Portugal to change its excise duty rules related to the marketing of cigarettes.

In Portugal, a time limit for the sale of cigarettes is set down, linked to the fiscal stamp on the packaging. Cigarettes cannot be sold any later than 3 months after the end of the year that they are released for consumption.

Under EU law (Directive 2008/118/EC), excise duty on tobacco products must be charged at the rate applicable on the date on which they are released for consumption. There is no provision under EU legislation which allows Member States to add supplementary duty to this release date tax rate, or to limit the distribution of tobacco products for fiscal reasons.

The Portuguese sales and marketing prohibition is clearly disproportionate to any fraud tackling objective.

It also runs contrary to the provisions of Directive 2008/118/EC, under which Member States must ensure that tax markings do not create obstacles to the free movement of excise goods.

The Commission’s request takes the form of a reasoned opinion (second step of EU infringement proceedings). If the rules are not brought into compliance within two months, the Commission may refer the matter to the European Court of Justice.

Background

For press releases issued on infringement proceedings in the area of taxation or customs see

For more information on EU infringement procedures, see MEMO/12/464

For the most up to date general information on the infringement proceedings initiated against Member States, see

Contacts

Emer Traynor ( 32 2 292 15 48)