Finland: Travellers to Russia will still not be able to bring back large quantities of beer into Finland, if the Helsinki government has its way. Finland has applied to the European Union for an extension to the EU dispensation that has hitherto limited tax-free personal beer imports from non-EU countries to a maximum of 16 litres, Helsingin Sanomat News posted on April 6. The grounds for the application are the prevention of alcohol-related health and social problems.

The current permit from Brussels runs out at the end of this year. If the EU rejects the Finnish approaches altogether, it will become possible to bring in as much as 200 litres or more of beer from Russia per person without paying duty on it. "This is a matter for negotiation with the Commission, and ultimately with the other member-states", says Finance Secretary Petri Malinen from the Ministry of Finance.

Should the discussions end in defeat for the Finnish government, the only restrictions on the import of beer will be in the form of the visa requirements for making the trip in the first place, the demand that the visit should be no shorter than 20 hours, and a ceiling of EUR 175 on the value of personal items imported from the country being visited.

At current St. Petersburg supermarket prices, this EUR 175 would mean it would be possible to import something like 220-250 litres of beer, if no other "souvenirs" were brought home.

The lifting of import restrictions in this instance only concerns beer. Travellers arriving from non-EU countries can currently bring in (free of tax) a maximum of one litre of spirits or strong alcohol OR two litres of aperitifs or fortified wines OR two litres of sparkling wine/champagne. In addition it is possible to bring in two litres of wine and 16 litres of beer. The EU dispensation granted to Finland covers only the beer. All the other limits are permanent and common to all EU member-states.

06 April, 2005