Legislation governing the sale of electronic cigarettes was approved yesterday by the European Parliament, which voted in the draft rules by 500 to 63, with 60 abstentions.
The move could set a precedent for legislation in other parts of the world where e cigarettes are still unregulated, especially in the US where guidance from the Food and Drug Administration is expected soon.
The European legislation allows shops to continue selling e cigarettes as consumer products to Europe’s estimated 10 million e cigarette smokers, or “vapers”, rather than having them be regulated as medicines as proposed in an earlier draft of the law.
But the final draft, which now just needs to be approved by member states, does impose strict conditions on how e cigarettes can be formulated, advertised and sold.
From mid 2016, when the legislation comes into force, all advertising will be banned in the 28 European Union countries. E cigarette packaging will have to include modest written health warnings, that “nicotine is addictive and could be harmful”, though there is scant evidence so far of ill effects from the products.
The nicotine in e cigarettes will also be restricted to 20 milligrams per millilitre of propylene glycol, a strength that scientists say is too weak for the 30 per cent of vapers who prefer higher concentrations. In a letter of complaint last month to the regulators, scientists said that this might deter heavy smokers from switching to e cigarettes and pointed out that concentrations containing 50 milligrams would more closely match the typical intake from real cigarettes.
Many backers of e cigarettes say they present the best opportunity yet for helping heavy smokers quit or cut down. “The directive in its current form will cause more harm to health than it prevents,” says Clive Bates, former head of the anti smoking group ASH, and a leading campaigner for e cigarettes. “It will place unjustified restrictions on an industry that could present an important alternative to the 28 per cent of European adults who smoke tobacco,” he says.
Travellers entering the eu – european commission
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In this context, imports are regarded as having no commercial character if they take place occasionally and consist of goods for the personal or family use of the travellers, or of goods intended as presents.
The limits laid down in the table above also apply if you come from
- Canary Islands,
- Channel Islands,
- French Overseas Departments
- Aland Islands
- Gibraltar
- Helgoland
- Busingen
- Ceuta and Melilla
- Livigno
- other territories where VAT and EU excise provisions do not apply.
EU legislation concerning allowances for travellers can be found in Council Directive 2007/74/EC of December 2007 (as far as VAT and excise duties are concerned) and in article 41 of Regulation 1186/2009 as far as customs duties are concerned.
In spite of these rules the importation of goods may be restricted or prohibited in accordance with specific Community and or national legislation.
Do you intend to purchase excise products (e.g. wine, spirits and tobacco products such as cigarettes, etc) over the internet? See the list of frequently asked questions.
New rules for import in travellers’ personal luggage
New rules on duty and tax free imports entered into force on 1 December 2008. See Council Directive 2007/74/EC of 20 December 2007 and Council Regulation 274/2008 of 17 March 2008 , which since 1 January 2010 has been replaced by Council Regulation 1186/2009 of 16 November 2009 . See also the press release (IP/08/1845 ).
Travellers entering the EU from other countries now benefit from increased savings when importing goods into the European Union in their personal luggage. Member States have also reduced administrative burdens by renouncing the collection of relatively small amounts of duty. Travellers’ allowances are the monetary thresholds or the quantitative limits under which travellers entering the EU from third countries are allowed to import duty and tax free in their personal luggage.
The rules in force since 1 December 2008 have
- increased the current monetary threshold from 175 to 430 for air and sea travellers and to 300 for land and inland waterways travellers the lower threshold for the latter takes account of the special situation of Member States that have land borders with countries where prices are significantly lower than in the EU
- abolished the quantitative limits on perfume, eau de toilette, coffee and tea (which means that such items now come under the monetary threshold)
- increased the quantitative limit for still wine from 2 to 4 litres
- introduced a quantitative limit of 16 litres on beer imports (only for VAT and excise duties given that beer is customs free)
- given Member States the option of reducing the quantitative limits on tobacco products (e.g. for cigarettes from 200 to 40) in support of health policies.
As an example, an air traveller arriving in the EU from a non EU country could import 200 cigarettes duty and tax free, 1 litre of spirits, 4 litres of wine, 16 litres of beer and 430 of other goods (toys, perfume, electronic devices, etc). Taxes and customs duties will be applied on the value of goods exceeding those limits. However, the value of an individual item may not be split up.
Restrictions of particular interest to international passengers 1. Products of animal origin
Apart from some exceptions the Community rules do not allow the importation of meat, meat products, milk and milk products by travellers. Clearer EU rules are in force as from 1 May 2009.
Two posters advertising the rules on personal imports of meat and milk into the EU are available in 35 languages.
- Poster No 1
- Poster No 2
2. Animal or plants or part of these, covered by the convention of Washington
Travellers must be aware that certain wildlife animals or plants and parts thereof are protected by the Convention of Washington (CITES). The importation of these specimens is strongly restricted following the Community rules implementing the CITES Convention.
3. Pets
Pet owners have to respect the Community rules on movements of pet animals.
4. Prohibitions and restrictions in the following areas are covered by national legislation
- Drugs
- Medicines
- Weapons
- Explosive Material
- Pornographic Materials
If you need more information, please contact the competent authorities of your country of destination.
5. Travelling with 10 000 or more in cash
As from 15 June 2007, travellers entering or leaving the EU and carrying 10 000 or more in cash (or its equivalent in other currencies or easily convertible assets such as cheques drawn on a third party) have to make a declaration to the customs authorities.
This follows the entry into force of a new European Regulation aimed at fighting money laundering, and the financing of terrorism. Customs authorities are empowered under the Regulation to undertake controls on individuals, their baggage and their means of transport and detain cash that has not been declared.
Travellers must be aware that all Member States apply penalties in the event of failure to comply with the obligation to declare as laid down in the Regulation. Some Member States may apply additional measures according to their national legislation (e.g. intra community cash controls).
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Travelling by air baggage controls in the European Union
You may find background information on baggage controls of passengers entering or leaving the EU in this information document.