LMS_Customs

At Customs

For most people custom issues sound very unimportant and irrelevant. They can, however, be your first hurdle to getting into the UK. If immigration finds something illegal among your baggage, they could well ask more questions about your intentions in visiting the UK and find some other reason to refuse you entry.

What is allowed at Customs?

Travellers to the UK are entitled to the following:

Duty and tax-free obtained outside the UK:

Tobacco:

200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 250 grams of tobacco

Alcohol:

•2 litres of still table wine, PLUS

•1 litre of alcohol over 22%, e.g. whiskey, brandy, or

•2 litres of alcohol not over 22%, e.g. sparkling wine

Perfume: - 60 cc/ml

Toilet Water: - 250 cc/ml

Other Products: - £145 worth of all other products including gifts and souvenirs. (Beer is included in this allowance.)

General

•A cigarillo is a cigar with a maximum weight of 3 grams.

•Anyone visiting the UK for less than 6 months is also entitled to bring in, free of duty and tax, all personal effects (except tobacco, alcohol, perfume) that they intend to take with them when leaving.

•The allowances apply only to goods carried and cleared by travellers at the time of their arrival.

•The allowances do not apply to goods brought in for sale or for other commercial purposes.

Not allowed at Customs

•Unlicensed drugs, such as heroin, morphine, cocaine, cannabis, am-phetamines, barbiturates and LSD;

•Offensive weapons, such as flick knives, butterfly knives, push daggers, belt-buckle knives, death stars, swordsticks, knuckledusters, blowpipes, spring-operated telescopic truncheons and some martial arts equipment;

•Indecent and obscene material featuring children, such as books, magazines, films, videotapes, laser discs and software;

•Pornographic material other than that which depicts the type of consensual sexual activity between adults which can be legally purchased in the UK;

•Counterfeit and pirated goods and goods that infringe patents (such as watches, clocks and CDs and any goods with false marks of origin) when brought into the UK from outside the UK;

•Meat, milk and associated products from outside the European Union are prohibited from the 1^st of January 2003. The following exceptions apply: powdered infant milk, infant food and special foods required for medical reasons which do not require refrigeration before consumption and are propriety branded products with packaging intact;

•You may bring in up to 1 kg of food not containing meat or milk derivatives per passenger (for example, fish). Tel: 020 7904 6000

Restricted Goods

Restricted goods are goods which you cannot import without authority such as a licence. They are subject to Custom and Excise control, and these officials need to be contacted regarding formalities and documentation. Tel: 020 7904 6000

Restricted goods include:

•Firearms, explosives and ammunition, including electric shock devices, such as stunguns and gas canisters. Contact the National Advice Service for more information. Tel: 020 7904 6000)

•Pet Passport Scheme allows pet dogs and cats to be imported from the EU and certain other countries, without the need for quarantine, providing certain conditions are met. Dogs and cats outside this scheme together with other animals, for example, rabbits, mice and rats, may not be imported unless you have a British import (rabies) licence. These animals are subject to normal quarantine arrangements. Tel: 020 7904 6000

•Live birds, including family pets, unless they are covered by a British health import licence. Tel: 020 7904 6000)

•Endangered species, including birds and plants, whether alive or dead; also such things as fur, ivory or leather (or goods made from them) that have been taken from endangered species. Tel: 0117 372 8749

•Certain plants and their produce. This includes trees, shrubs, potatoes, certain fruit, bulbs and seeds. Tel: 01904 455195

•Radio transmitters such as CB radios that are not approved for use in the UK. Tel: 020 7211 0463)