Unfair restrictions on duty paid goods into Ireland from EU

[asset test]

I thought the Single Market allowed the free movement of goods and services throughout the EU. I was wrong.

If I buy for example cigarettes in Spain for my own use, duty paid, I can only bring in 800. That is the indicative amount that Ireland uses for one's own use. I always thought there were no restrictions on importing duty paid goods from another EU country. Obviously, commercial transactions and smuggling operations are treated differently.

PN 1878 - Information for Travellers Arriving in Ireland from Member States of the European Community

In the UK, similar rules apply, i.e. own use indicative amounts, however over there they must be very heavy smokers as they are allowed 3,200 as an indicator of the amount being for one's own use.

HM Revenue & Customs

While I acknowledge that smuggling is rampant, surely an amount at least equal to that of the UK would be reasonable. If Ireland's restriction of 800 is to protect excise duties here, then surely that is against the principle of the Free Market. One law for us, another law for them.

I am not impressed.

[Sailor]

I thought the Single Market allowed the free movement of goods and services throughout the EU. I was wrong.

If I buy for example cigarettes in Spain for my own use, duty paid, I can only bring in 800. That is the indicative amount that Ireland uses for one's own use. I always thought there were no restrictions on importing duty paid goods from another EU country. Obviously, commercial transactions and smuggling operations are treated differently.

PN 1878 - Information for Travellers Arriving in Ireland from Member States of the European Community

In the UK, similar rules apply, i.e. own use indicative amounts, however over there they must be very heavy smokers as they are allowed 3,200 as an indicator of the amount being for one's own use.

HM Revenue & Customs

While I acknowledge that smuggling is rampant, surely an amount at least equal to that of the UK would be reasonable. If Ireland's restriction of 800 is to protect excise duties here, then surely that is against the principle of the Free Market. One law for us, another law for them.

I am not impressed.

Thanks - useful post. But is this the Irish government playing silly buggers? And are they just playing on the fact that we are an island? For example I live in Spain and can drive across the border to Portugal as freely as I can travel to another part of Spain - no immigration/passport or customs check. Never seen any form of border check

[DCon]

Try buying a car in another EU country and taking it to Ireland for your own personal use.

[Tony_1975]

Good post.
The Irish government was us to vote for Lisbon, yet try very hard to curtail the advantages that being members of the EU should give us. Try importing a car from the North, for example.

[asset test]

Sailor, what irritates me is that the UK is an island nation also, but has much easier access to mainland Europe by tunnel and ferry and their indicative amount for own use is more than four times ours.

So if you are a UK resident you are not deemed to be smuggling if you bring in 3.600 fags, but over here you are (apparently) a smuggler if you take in more than 800.

I agree that continental Europe has few land border customs restrictions, so why is this little country that loves the EU so much restricting its citizens from availing of the Free Market like all other EU citizens can?

[Tony_1975]

Sailor, what irritates me is that the UK is an island nation also, but has much easier access to mainland Europe by tunnel and ferry and their indicative amount for own use is more than four times ours.

So if you are a UK resident you are not deemed to be smuggling if you bring in 3.600 fags, but over here you are (apparently) a smuggler if you take in more than 800.

I agree that continental Europe has few land border customs restrictions, so why is this little country that loves the EU so much restricting its citizens from availing of the Free Market like all other EU citizens can?

Tax, tax and tax.

[asset test]

Tony 1975, surely the free market is about NOT restricting the movement of goods and services just because different tax rules apply in different EU countries.

Ireland is restricting the import of duty paid goods to protect its tax base. That to me is anti EU free market principles.

What can we do about this?

[lapsedmethodist]

Thanks - useful post. But is this the Irish government playing silly buggers? And are they just playing on the fact that we are an island? For example I live in Spain and can drive across the border to Portugal as freely as I can travel to another part of Spain - no immigration/passport or customs check. Never seen any form of border check

That's because of the Shengen Agreement. Ireland and U.K. opted out. That's why we need to provide a passport on entering Europe.

[Sailor]

That's because of the Shengen Agreement. Ireland and U.K. opted out. That's why we need to provide a passport on entering Europe.

Thanks - didn´t know that.

[asset test]

That's because of the Shengen Agreement. Ireland and U.K. opted out. That's why we need to provide a passport on entering Europe.

Agreed, but that still does not explain the restrictive practices of Ireland in relation to a person importing goods for their own use as compared to our nearest neighbour UK which is also non Schengen.