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TRAVELLING TO AND FROM THE EU

Detailed information

FEBRUARY 2017

CONTENTS

1.0 TRAVELLING TO THE EU 3

1.1 Personal luggage 3

1.2 Exemptions 4

1.3 Customs clearance of goods in passenger transport 5

2.0 TRAVELLING FROM THE EU 6

2.1 Personal luggage 6

2.2 VAT refund in respect of passenger transport 6

3.0 PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS 7

3.1 Weapon and ammunition 7

3.2 Pet animals 8

3.3. Foodstuffs 9

3.4. Plants and plant products 10

3.5. Protected animal and plant species 11

3.6. Medicinal products and illicit drugs 11

3.7. Cultural goods 12

1.0 TRAVELLING TO THE EU

Travellers entering the customs territory of the Union must (orally) declare to the customs authorities the following goods:

— any goods of commercial character;

— any goods acquired outside the customs territory of the Union, the quantity or the value of which exceeds the quantitative limits or the monetary thresholds provided for the exemption from import duties;

— any goods subject to restrictions and prohibitions.

Where a border-crossing point is equipped with separate (red and green) channels, you must use the red channel when importing the above-mentioned goods. However, if there are no such separate channels, you must declare the goods orally. When you import goods which do not have to be declared, you may use the green channel.

When you are not sure whether goods must be declared or not, we advise you to declare all the goods you are carrying. If you come from a third country and carry goods purchased in the EU Member State prior to your journey to the Union, you should keep the invoice in respect of those goods in order to be able to prove their Union status and to avoid having them taxed again.

According to customs regulations, a "traveller" means:

— on import: any natural person who temporarily enters the customs territory of the Union, where he or she does not normally reside, and any natural person who returns to that territory, where he or she normally resides, after temporarily residing outside that territory,

— on export: any natural person who temporarily leaves the customs territory of the Union, where he or she normally resides, and any person who leaves the customs territory of the Union after a temporary stay, where he or she does not normally reside.

“Normal residence” means the place where a person lives for at least 185 days in each calendar year because of personal or occupational ties. However, in the case of a person with no occupational ties or whose occupational ties are in a different country from that of his or her personal ties, the place of his or her personal ties is considered as his or her place of normal residence provided that he or she returns there regularly. Residence in a foreign country for the purpose of studying does not constitue a transfer of normal residence.

1.1 Personal luggage

Travellers, not normally resident in the customs territory of the Union, may temporarily import duty and tax free goods in their personal luggage including the goods intended for sports activities practised during their residence in the EU. When a traveller leaves the customs territory of the Union, he or she must re-export the goods in their personal luggage. A traveller with the normal residence in the customs territory of the Union who temporarily exports his personal luggage to a third country may re-import his luggage duty and tax free within the period of three years. The goods may be altered during this period only due to their normal use or forms of handling. When these goods are re-imported, their customs status of Union goods is proved to customs authorities on the basis of a suitable proof (e.g. a document confirming the registration of the customs status of the goods, an invoice, a warranty certificate etc.).

1.2 Exemptions

Goods of non-commercial character imported in the personal luggage of a traveller are exempt from import duties, value added tax and excise duties if they are imported occasionally and are intended for the personal or family use of the travellers or as presents. The nature or the quantity of the goods must not be such as to indicate that they are imported for commercial purposes. Exemptions from import duties are granted within the framework of quantitative limits and monetary thresholds.

For the purpose of claiming exemption in air and maritime traffic, a traveller means any passenger travelling by air or sea other than private pleasure-flying or private pleasure-sea-navigation.

Monetary thresholds

Exemption from the payment of import duties, VAT and excise duties can only be claimed in respect of goods the total value of which does not exceed EUR 300 per person. The monetary threshold for travellers in air and maritime traffic is EUR 430. Travellers under 15 years of age may be granted exemptions from import duties for goods the total value of which does not exceed EUR 150.

If the total value of the goods exceeds these thresholds, the exemption is granted only for the above-mentioned amounts. Moreover, the value of individual items cannot be split up for the purpose of applying the monetary thresholds (e.g. the value of an item totalling EUR 500 cannot be split up between two travellers in order to import that item duty and tax free).

Monetary thresholds do not apply to the value of the personal luggage of a traveller which is temporarily imported or re-imported after a temporary export and to the value of medicinal products for the personal needs of a traveller.

Quantitative limits

The imports of excise goods – tobacco and tobacco products, alcohol and alcoholic beverages and fuel, are exempt from import duties, VAT and excise duties provided that the following quantitative limits are not exceeded:

|Tobacco and tobacco products (travellers over 17 years of age): |

|200 |cigarettes, or |

|100 |cigarillos, or |

|50 |cigars, or |

|250 grams |smoking tobacco, or |

| |a proportional assortment of these different products |

|Alcohol and alcoholic beverages (travellers over 17 years of age): |

|1 litre |alcohol and alcoholic beverages of an alcoholic strength exceeding|

| |22 % vol, or undenatured alcohol of 80 % vol and over, or |

|2 litres |alcohol and alcoholic beverages of an alcoholic strength not |

| |exceeding 22 % vol, or |

| |a proportional assortment of these different products, and |

|4 litres |still wine, and |

|16 litres |beer |

|Fuel: |the quantity contained in the standard tank of any means of |

| |transport with an additional quantity of 10 litres contained in a |

| |portable container. |

1.3 Customs clearance of goods in passenger transport

Non-commercial goods the value or the quantity of which exceeds the prescribed monetary thresholds or quantitative limits for exemptions are subject to duties on import into the EU. All customs formalities for the release of goods for free circulation may be performed at a border-crossing point. When a traveller has paid the established amount of import duties, he or she receives a receipt from customs authorities confirming the payment of the duties due and may freely dispose of the goods.

Imported goods are usually subject to import duties (customs duty) and VAT. Excise goods entering the EU, however, are also subject to other duties, such as excise duties.

Customs value of goods

Duties are usually calculated on the basis of the transaction value specified in the submitted invoice. The customs value of goods can also be determined on the basis of the transaction value of identical or similar goods or by applying other prescribed methods of determining the customs value. The amount of VAT which was paid when the goods were purchased in a third country is not included in the customs value of the goods if the buyer can prove that the amount of the VAT paid will be or has been refunded to him.

Rates of customs duties

Import duties are calculated at the rate of customs duty determined on the basis of the tariff classification of goods in the combined nomenclature. Import duties paid on the import of non-commercial goods with a value not exceeding EUR 700 (except for tobacco products and goods imported at a zero rate of duty) can be calculated at a flat rate of 2.5%. However, upon a traveller’s request submitted before the customs clearance of goods, customs duties may be calculated at the rates prescribed for the tariff classification of the goods in question.

Origin of goods

Goods originating in countries with which the European Union has concluded free trade agreements can be entitled to the application of lower rates of customs duties. Preferential rate of duty in respect of the goods the value of which does not exceed EUR 1 200 may be requested orally. This, however, is not the case with the goods of a higher value, in respect of which a specific proof of origin provided for by customs regulations must be furnished in order to be subject to preferential rate of customs duty. The origin of goods the value of which does not exceed EUR 6 000 is proved by means of an invoice declaration of origin issued by a seller for the purchased goods. However, the origin of the goods the value of which exceeds EUR 6 000 is proved by other certificates (e.g. a movement certificate EUR. 1). Goods subject to the zero rate of duty on import are nevertheless subject to other import charges.

Regular customs clearance

Where justified, a customs authority may refuse to accept a traveller’s oral customs declaration and may require a customs declaration in writing to be submitted at one of customs departments.

Useful links:

Nomenclature, tariff classification and TARIC

Customs value of goods

Origin of goods

TARIC browser

2.0 TRAVELLING FROM THE EU

2.1 Personal luggage

When leaving the customs territory of the Union, a traveller does not need to declare to customs the non-commercial goods in his personal luggage which he or she intends to use during the journey. The same rule applies when personal luggage is re-imported into the customs territory of the Union, because such goods are deemed to have the customs status of Union goods, if they have been declared as such and there is no doubt about the authenticity of such a declaration.

A customs authority may request the presentation of an adequate proof in order to check the customs status of the goods. In order to prove the customs status of Union goods, a traveller can submit a document from which the status of Union goods is unambiguously evident, such as a document confirming the registration of the customs status of the goods, an invoice, a warranty certificate etc. A traveller may request a document confirming the registration of the customs status on export of goods from the customs territory of the Union.

2.2 VAT refund in respect of passenger transport

A purchaser with no permanent or normal residence in the Union who exports from the Union goods purchased in Slovenia including replacement parts installed during servicing or repairs in motor vehicles, boats or aircrafts registered outside the tax territory of the Union is entitled to claim the refund of VAT paid for the exported goods. A permanent or normal residence means the place which is as such indicated in a passport, personal identity card or any other identification document valid in Slovenia.

The following conditions must be met for VAT refund:

— the value of the purchased goods inclusive of VAT on a single invoice issued by the same vendor to one purchaser exceeds EUR 50;

— the purchased goods and the refund form which the vendor has completed and issued for the purchased goods are made available for inspection by border customs authorities. The purchaser must enclose to the refund form original copies of the invoices. (After checking the original refund form and the original copies of the invoices, a customs authority endorses them and enters the date of the export of goods from the Union).

— The purchaser has exported the goods from the Union before the expiry of the third month following the month in which the purchase was made.

If the purchased goods have already been used in the Union, a customs authority may deny the VAT refund. No VAT refund is possible in the case of excise goods such as mineral oils, alcohol and alcoholic beverages, tobacco and tobacco products.

3.0 PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS

Special prohibitions and restricitons are applied on imports into and exports from the territory of the Union in order to protect public order and security, safeguard the health and life of humans, plants and animals, protect the environment, national treasures possessing artistic, historic or archaeological value, intellectual property etc. We kindly advise you to obtain timely and sufficient information on the conditions that have to be met when importing into and exporting from the Union specific types of goods.

In the following chapters, you can find information on prohibitions and restrictions in passenger transport.

3.1 Weapon and ammunition

Natural persons may carry across the state borders only weapon and ammunition which can be acquired and held in possession. This is only permitted at international border-crossing points. At interstate border-crossing points and border crossings for local border traffic, however, weapon and ammunition may be carried only if this is provided by an international agreement.

Nationals and residents of the Union Member States must obtain a firearms pass issued by an individual Member State to import weapon from third countries. However, the import of newly acquired weapon or ammunition can only be carried out on the basis of a licence granted by a competent authority of the Member State in which the importer is resident or established.

Foreigners and nationals of the Union Member States not resident in the Union who attend hunting or target-shooting competitions may introduce their weapon and ammunition on the basis of a licence granted by a competent authority of the Republic of Slovenia authorized to perform consular functions abroad. In case such a licence is not granted by the above mentioned authority, it can be obtained under the same conditions from the police when crossing the border and after having declared weapon and ammunition.

Foreigners and nationals of the Union Member States not resident in the Union who wish to export weapon and ammunition from the Union must obtain a special licence granted by an administrative unit competent for the territory where the vendor or the private person selling the weapon is established. The vendor must transfer the weapon or the ammunition to the border-crossing point and hand it over to the holder of the licence in the presence of police.

No licence or prior consent is required for purchasing and transferring the following types of weapon across the borders by persons over 18 years of age:

— air rifles with a muzzle energy lower than 20 joules or a muzzle velocity lower than 200 m/s;

— spring-operated or spring-powered weapon,

— electric paralyzer which cannot be operated from the distance,

— pepper sprays.

Useful links:

Ministry of the Interior; Weapon and explosives

More information can be obtained at the following address:

|Ministry of the Interior |T: 01 428 40 00 |

|2 Štefanova, 1501 Ljubljana |E: gp.mnz@gov.si |

| |S: |

3.2 Pet animals

Non-commercial movements of pet animals into a Member State from another Member State or from third countries are carried out according to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 and Rules on veterinary conditions to be fulfilled for non-commercial movements of pet animals and on a model passport for such animals (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia No 85/14). Pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013, pet animals are dogs, cats, ferrets, invertebrates (except bees, bumble bees, molluscs and crustaceans), ornamental acquatic animals, amphibia, reptiles, birds (other than poultry) and mammals (rodents and rabbits other than those intended for food production) that accompany their owner or an authorised person during non-commercial movement. The person responsible for these animals during such non-commercial movement is their owner or an authorised person. Non-commercial movement means any movement which does not have as its aim either the sale of or the transfer of ownership of a pet animal.

Veterinary conditions for non-commercial movements of pet animals differ according to species, age of the animal, country of origin and country of destination and determine the method of identification, the required accompanying documents, medical requirements (vaccination) etc. Non-commercial movements of dogs, cats, ferrets and pet birds are subject to the strictest veterinary conditions due to a high risk of transmission of diseases, such as rabies and avian influenza.

The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Food Safety, Veterinaty and Plant Protection – UVHVVR (Uprava RS za varno hrano, veterinarstvo in varstvo rastlin) and customs authorities perform checks to establish whether conditions for non-commercial movement of pets are met.

A detailed description of veterinary conditions for non-commercial movements of pet animals is available at the website of UVHVVR:

Dogs, cats and ferrets

Pet birds

Other pets

Useful links:

European Commission (DG Sante)

3.3. Foodstuffs

Due to a risk of transmission of animal diseases, the introduction of products of animal origin (meat, milk, meat and milk products, fish, eggs, honey etc.) for personal use of travellers is subject to special requirements laid down by Regulation (EC) No 206/2009. According to the provisions of this regulation, the following foodstuffs can be introduced into the territory of the Union without being subject to any veterinary formalities:

— meat and meat products and milk and milk products (other than powdered infant milk, infant food and special foods or special pet feed required for medical reasons) provided that they come from the Faeroe Islands, Greenland or Iceland and their weight does not exceed 10 kg per person;

— powdered infant milk, infant food, special foods and special pet food required for medical reasons provided that they come from the Faeroe Islands, Greenland or Iceland and the product does not require refrigeration before consumption, it is a packaged proprietary brand product intended for direct sale to the final consumer, the packaging is unbroken (unless in current use) and their weight does not exceed 10 kg per person;

— powdered infant milk, infant food, special foods and special pet food required for medical reasons provided that they come from other countries (other than the Faeroe Islands, Greenland or Iceland), the product does not require refrigeration before consumption, it is a packaged proprietary brand product intended for direct sale to the final consumer, the packaging is unbroken (unless in current use) and their weight does not exceed 2 kg per person;

— fishery products or one fish whose weight exceeds 20 kg (including fresh, dried, cooked, cured or smoked fish and certain shellfish, such as prawns, lobsters, dead mussels and dead oysters). Fresh fish must be eviscerated. These restrictions do not apply to fishery products which come from the Faroe Islands or Iceland.

— other animal products such as honey, live mussels, live oysters and snails provided that they come from the Faeroe Islands, Greenland or Iceland and their combined weight does not exceed 10 kg per person;

— other animal products such as honey, live mussels, live oysters and snails provided that they come from other countries (other than the Faeroe Islands, Greenland or Iceland) and their combined weight does not exceed 2 kg per person.

Larger quantities of animal products may be brought to the Union only if they are subject to the prescribed veterinary controls on import into the Union.

Certain composite products which may contain processed plant products and processed animal products (but not meat products) are not subject to veterinary controls, as well. Such products are bread, cakes, biscuits, chocolate and confectionery (including sweets), not mixed or filled with meat product, food supplements packaged for the final consumer, meat extracts and meat concentrates, olives stuffed with fish, pasta and noodles not mixed or filled with meat product, soup stocks and flavourings packaged for the final consumer, any other food product not containing any fresh or processed meat or diary and with less than 50% of processed egg or fishery products.

Restrictions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 206/2009 do not apply to personal consignments of animal products which come from Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland and to consignments of fishery products from the Faeroe Islands and Iceland.

Useful links:

The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Food Safety, Veterinary and Plant Protection; Personal luggage

3.4. Plants and plant products

Plants, parts of plants and other products which present a risk of spreading organisms harmful to the health of plants can be introduced to the Union only at border-crossing points with phytosanitary border inspection posts where phytosanitary checks of consignments can be performed. Each consignment must be accompanied by a phytosanitary document issued in the country of origin.

Inspections and phytosanitary certificates are not obligatory when small quantities of plants and plant products originating in the European countries are introduced in Slovenia by natural persons. The following quantities are considered small quantities:

— fruit and raw vegetables (other than potatoes): total quantity of 5 kg;

— cut flowers and parts of plants bound in a bouquet or a wreath: 1 bouquet or 1 wreath;

— seeds (other than seed potatoes) in original packaging not intended for sale, total quantity of 0,5 kg;

— flower bulbs and tubers: total quantity of 5 kg;

— a Christmas tree with no roots: 1 piece.

— indoor growing plants, potted plants (other than bonsai): total quantity of 3 plants;

— balcony plants, not wooden ornamental shrubs: total quantity of 10 plants.

The above mentioned exemptions from inspections and phytosanitary certificates when importing small quantities of plants and plant products are possible only provided that the import of these plants, plant products and other controlled products is not prohibited.

Useful links:

The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Food Safety, Veterinary and Plant Protection; Personal luggage

More information can be obtained at the following address:

|Uprava RS za varno hrano, veterinarstvo in varstvo rastlin/the Administration of |T: 01 300 1300 |

|the Republic of Slovenia for Food Safety, Veterinary and Plant Protection |E: gp.uvhvvr@gov.si |

|22 Dunajska cesta, 1000 Ljubljana |S: |

3.5. Protected animal and plant species

CITES Convention

Trade in endangered plant and animal species protected by the international CITES Convention is subject to severe restrictions. Each protected animal or plant species or product thereof must be accompanied by documents provided for by CITES Convention and the European as well as national regulations. Such documents must accompany live or dead animals and plants, parts thereof and their products on import or export.

The introduction or re-introduction of the below mentioned items and quantites intended for personal or household use does not require the presentation of a permit:

— caviar of sturgeon species (Acipenseriformes spp.), up to a maximum of 125 grams per person, in containers that are individually marked in accordance with provisons;

— rainsticks of Cactaceae spp., up to three per person;

— dead worked specimens of crocodiles of the species Crocodylia spp., excluding meat and hunting trophies, up to four per person;

— shells of snails of the species Strombus gigas, up to three per person;

— Hippocampus spp. up to four dead specimens per person;

— shells of Tridacnidae spp. up to three specimens per person not exceeding 3 kg in total, where a specimen may be one intact shell or two matching halves;

— specimens of agarwood (Aquilaria spp. and Gyrinops spp.) – up to 1 kg woodchips, 24 ml oil and two sets of beads or prayer beads (or two necklaces or bracelets) per person.

Useful links:

Slovenian Environment Agency; CITES Convention

European Commission (DG Environment)

More information is available at the following address:

|Slovenian Environment Agency |T: 01 478 40 00 |

|1b Vojkova, 1000 Ljubljana |E: gp.arso@gov.si |

| |S: |

3.6. Medicinal products and illicit drugs

Medicinal products

Travellers arriving in the EU from third countries can bring in their personal luggage only medicinal products which they need for:

— their personal use, or

— the personal use of their family members, or, on the basis of an authorisation, for the personal use of a maximum of one individual who is not a member of their family, or

— their respective animal which is not of a food producing animal species.

The quantity of a medicinal product must be consistent with the relevant therapeutic use, as follows:

— for a maximum of three weeks for acute conditions;

— for a maximum of three months according to the prescribed dosage for chronic diseases and conditions which require long-term use of medicinal products, or exceptionally for up to 12 months if an individual submits to the competent customs authority proof of permitted residence in the target country in the respective period, unless the regulations on illicit drugs specify otherwise.

With respect to the medicinal products for which a medical or a veterinary prescription is required, a customs authority may demand that the traveller provide a proof of the medicinal or veterinary prescription for such medicinal products.

Illicit drugs

The import into and export from Slovenia of illicit drugs is prohibited. Travellers crossing the border with the Republic of Slovenia may only be in possession of drugs which are used according to specific provisions as medicinal products. A traveller must provide a medical certificate in such cases.

More information can be obtained at the following address:

|Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Medicinal Products and Medical |T: 08 2000 500 |

|Devices |E: info@jazmp.si |

|21 Ptujska ulica, 1000 Ljubljana |S: jazmp.si |

3.7. Cultural goods

The export of cultural goods from the EU to third countries or the transfer of such goods from one EU Member State to another is subject to the presentation of an export licence issued by the competent ministry.

The import of cultural goods into the EU, however, is not subject to such a requirement and no import licence issued by ministry of culture is required. Nevertheless, other measures and international rules may apply and provide restrictions for the free movement of cultural goods in the EU.

More information is available at the following address:

|Ministry of Culture |T: (01) 369 59 00 |

|Cultural Heritage Directorate |E: gp.mk@gov.si |

|10 Maistrova ulica, 1000 Ljubljana |S: .si |

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