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Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Wed 21 Mar 2018 1:38 pm
by frontalman
Although I do not approve of the dreaded weed, a friend has asked how many cigarettes he can take back to the UK via Ercan and Istanbul. I know he is not restricted by EU regulations but what is the maximum he can take in his suitcase, please?
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Wed 21 Mar 2018 2:00 pm
by butterfly
1 carton. 200 sticks.
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Wed 21 Mar 2018 2:36 pm
by geroff
Ever wondered why the dreaded weed smells so harsh in NC compared with named brands in GB ?????
I dont smoke, but the harsh smell from 'the weed' in NC surely is a warning to every one? ....
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 6:57 am
by frontalman
I would have thought it would be more. Aren't you allowed 400 ciggies from duty free between EU nations? What happened to as many as you like for personal use?
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 8:15 am
by teatime
Turkey is not an EU nation so it's the rules for non EU from Ercan so it's just 200 cigarettes per person.
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 8:25 am
by Kanonier
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 10:30 am
by frontalman
Thank you very much for all your help. 200 it is.
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 10:39 am
by jacob
Frontalman if you fly out of Larnaca, you can take as many as you want, within reason.
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 10:43 am
by tomsteel
jacob wrote:Frontalman if you fly out of Larnaca, you can take as many as you want, within reason.
What is "within reason"? Who decides the "within reason" amount you can carry/import into the UK?
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 11:26 am
by Hedge-fund
800 is the 'within reason'amount. More than that and you may be asked to explain.
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 11:32 am
by kerry 6138
https://www.gov.uk/duty-free-goods
Although there are no limits to the alcohol and tobacco you can bring in fromEU countries, you’re more likely to be asked questions if you have more than the amounts below.
Type of goodsCigarettes800Cigars200Cigarillos400Tobacco1kgBeer110 litresWine90 litresSpirits10 litresFortified wine (eg sherry, port)20 litres
You don’t pay duty or tax on goods you bring in from the European Union(EU) as long as you:
transport them yourselfhave paid duty and tax in the country where you bought them
The Canary Islands, the north of Cyprus, Gibraltar and the Channel Islands are not part of the EU for customs purposes - follow the rules for countries outside the EU instead.
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 11:50 am
by tomsteel
Hedge-fund wrote:800 is the 'within reason'amount. More than that and you may be asked to explain.
TY.
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 12:07 pm
by Keithcaley
jacob wrote:Frontalman if you fly out of Larnaca, you can take as many as you want, within reason.
However, you cannot (legally ) take them across the Green Line from TRNC to ROC - the limit is one pack of 20!
You could always buy the EU approved amount at Larnaca airport, but they'll cost you a lot more, and if you get stopped by Customs at the Green line with more than 20, then the likelihood is that they'll not only confiscate the lot, but you'll have to pay a penalty as well
The risk is yours to take
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 5:58 pm
by frontalman
As he is flying with Pegasus they won't let him take off from Larnaca
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 6:54 pm
by Joker1
It cost 45€ at Duty Free shops in Larnaca Airport. This is less than half what you would pay in the UK. It’s still a bargain!
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 6:55 pm
by Joker1
Sorry that is for 200 Benson and Hedges.
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 7:20 pm
by Maisiemoo
I always thought you could take 2 packets of 20 across the Green Line! Certainly when I was stopped by customs a couple of years ago and showed him 4 x 20 for 2 people I was just waved through.
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 7:25 pm
by Keithcaley
Maisiemoo wrote:I always thought you could take 2 packets of 20 across the Green Line! Certainly when I was stopped by customs a couple of years ago and showed him 4 x 20 for 2 people I was just waved through.
Who knows?
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 7:32 pm
by erol
Maisiemoo wrote:I always thought you could take 2 packets of 20 across the Green Line! Certainly when I was stopped by customs a couple of years ago and showed him 4 x 20 for 2 people I was just waved through.
from
http://www.mof.gov.cy/mof/customs/custo ... BF002D0A28
6. Crossing of Persons
Persons shall cross the line only at the crossing points mentioned in paragraph 5 (except c and d) and the goods which hold or contained in their personal luggage may be exempt from turnover tax and excise duty as well as from other duties provided that:
A. Goods have no commercial character and their total value does not exceed €260 per person;
B. The quantitative limits for exemptions shall be 40 cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits for personal consumption. This exemption shall not be granted to persons crossing the Line under 17 years of age. The movement of any quantity of fine-cut tobacco for the rolling of cigarettes and/or other smoking tobacco from the areas of the Republic of Cyprus which are not under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus is prohibited.
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 7:38 pm
by Keithcaley
...Who knows?
Erol knows!
40 it is ....
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 7:49 pm
by frontalman
Joker1 wrote:It cost 45€ at Duty Free shops in Larnaca Airport. This is less than half what you would pay in the UK. It’s still a bargain!
I hope you can see the insanity of what you have said.
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Thu 22 Mar 2018 11:20 pm
by jofra
Just as a point of interest (and a fine distinction much loved by lawyers ), according to the link -
"...It is noted that the suspension does not affect the personal rights of Turkish Cypriots as EU citizens. They are citizens of a Member State, the Republic of Cyprus, even though they may live in the areas not under government control."
Therefore, does the limit of 40 cigarettes etc apply only to NON-Turkish Cypriots while Turkish Cypriots (as EU citizens) would be permitted to carry "unlimited (subject to 800 without question) cigarettes etc".....
If so, why not ask your taxi driver to carry them across the Green Line.....
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Mon 26 Mar 2018 4:02 am
by Trigger
erol wrote:Maisiemoo wrote:I always thought you could take 2 packets of 20 across the Green Line! Certainly when I was stopped by customs a couple of years ago and showed him 4 x 20 for 2 people I was just waved through.
from
http://www.mof.gov.cy/mof/customs/custo ... BF002D0A28
6. Crossing of Persons
Persons shall cross the line only at the crossing points mentioned in paragraph 5 (except c and d) and the goods which hold or contained in their personal luggage may be exempt from turnover tax and excise duty as well as from other duties provided that:
A. Goods have no commercial character and their total value does not exceed €260 per person;
B. The quantitative limits for exemptions shall be 40 cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits for personal consumption. This exemption shall not be granted to persons crossing the Line under 17 years of age. The movement of any quantity of fine-cut tobacco for the rolling of cigarettes and/or other smoking tobacco from the areas of the Republic of Cyprus which are not under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus is prohibited.
Sorry to hijack the thread a little bit, but does that mean if my wife and I drive to Ikea, we can come back across the border with €520 worth of goods?
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Mon 26 Mar 2018 7:26 am
by Keithcaley
Trigger wrote:... does that mean if my wife and I drive to Ikea, we can come back across the border with €520 worth of goods?
I think that the goods have to be 'For personal use' - and your interpretation of that may not coincide with that of any particular TRNC Customs Officer, on any particular day...
I think that 'Furniture
not manufactured in Cyprus' is excluded from the 'Permitted Items'.
And from personal experience, you would need separate receipts - although, once again, that may depend on which Customs Officer you get, and what day it is!
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Mon 26 Mar 2018 9:12 am
by THREE LIZARDS
Trigger, be careful. We bought some garden chairs from Ikea. We were stopped and had to pay Tax on it. Stupid honest me showed him the receipt as the guy asked if we had it. Could probably have blagged that it cost less by saying i couldnt find it.
They would only take cash too. Mmmmm.
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Mon 26 Mar 2018 9:28 am
by erol
Trigger wrote: Sorry to hijack the thread a little bit, but does that mean if my wife and I drive to Ikea, we can come back across the border with €520 worth of goods?
The Green line agreement is between the RoC and the EU and defines what and who can pass from North to South. Whilst the TRNC has chosen to broadly mirror this agreement from South to North it has not signed any binding agreement like the RoC has and can and does have it's own differences, like those with furniture mentioned above. The TRNC could tomorrow unilaterally decide on totally different rules for people coming from the South in to the North. The RoC on the other hand could not make such changes unilaterally and would need the support of the EU commission for any changes it might seek to make.
So you can not assume that you can bring 520 euros worth of any type of Goods from South to North just because such are defined as allowed in the Green line agreement when going from North to the South.
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Mon 26 Mar 2018 10:30 am
by rigsby
When Cyprus Turkish Airplanes were still flying I saw a pilot filling a bag with fags behind the counter at Ercan duty free.Nice little side line.
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Mon 26 Mar 2018 5:29 pm
by Trigger
THREE LIZARDS wrote:Trigger, be careful. We bought some garden chairs from Ikea. We were stopped and had to pay Tax on it. Stupid honest me showed him the receipt as the guy asked if we had it. Could probably have blagged that it cost less by saying i couldnt find it.
They would only take cash too. Mmmmm.
So I should be ok with bedding, lighting, crockery etc but don’t buy furniture and don’t get too much?
Thanks
Re: Tobacco allowance back to UK
Posted: Wed 28 Mar 2018 7:25 am
by fincho
I guess it’s what you are prepared to attempt to get away with.My sister in law went from Ercan to Edinburgh with three kgs of tobacco and got through.Greedy or stupid that is the question?Maybe a combination of both!