Faro Airport - cigarette allowance

[Mylen1um]

Was surprised to see on Sunday, when returning to the UK, signs in Faro Airport telling me that I could take 4 cartons (800) of cigarettes back to the UK. Surprised because it used to be 16 cartons & I was unaware that anything had changed - even more surprised because when I got to Stansted I checked & basically there's still no limit.

That is, providing -
1. You have transported them yourself
2. They are for your own use or as a gift
3. You have paid the tax & duty in the Country where you bought the.

However, on checking various websites, including HM Revenue & Customs, there was an EU change on 1st October 2011.
It appears from what I have read that this change simply means that you can still take back as many as you want but you are now more likely to be challenged if you have more than 4 cartons - that is of course, if you get stopped.

So, in summary, you can still take back 16 cartons per person but if you do, and you're stopped & found with them, you have to convince Custom Officials that you fully comply with the above conditions.

To quote the HM Revenue & Customs website -

"Law-abiding individuals who genuinely import goods for their own use will not be affected. This change will only affect individuals who are abusing the current limits to avoid paying excise duty on tobacco products which are subsequently resold.'

Sounds to me like a typical EU waste of time, effort & money - so no change there then.

[Polli62]

This info is posted on HMRC website, it came in force on 1st October 2011, why I don't know Yes you can only buy max 800 cigs at Faro airport shopping but when you get into UK the allowance is still 3200 as long as you can prove they are for your own personal use. Yes a typical waste of money & rescources, pity they aint got nowt else more important to worry about.

[alf1956]

they have also reduced the limit for tobbaco from 3kg to 1 kg,my brother brought back 5kg&they stopped him but he told them it was for his own personal use,they didnt believe him&asked him to roll a cigarette which he did but he also lit it up & started to smoke it at which they went mad at him saying he wasnt allowed to smoke !!!

[alf1956]

they have also reduced the limit for tobbaco from 3kg to 1 kg,my brother brought back 5kg&they stopped him but he told them it was for his own personal use,they didnt believe him&asked him to roll a cigarette which he did but he also lit it up & started to smoke it at which they went mad at him saying he wasnt allowed to smoke !!!

[EMM]

Smoking obviously affected his mental state then

[Duffyboy5]

I have just returned from faro airport and saw the signs regarding them only selling UK citizens 4 sleeves at the airport when in actual fact if they are for your own use you can bring in 3200 (16) sleeves. We are in the EU ? Burn the sign just singles out UK citizens. This makes me wonder whether this s is in actual fact discriminatory. Also when I was waiting for my suitcase at manchester airport there was a neon sign saying you could bring into the country as much alcohol and tobacco if bought from an EU country! No mention of 16 sleeves there. I don't think this government or any previous one can get their facts right. the 16 sleeves is apparently only a guideline so perhaps we can actually bring more in, after all you are paying the taxes due in the country where you have bought them.

[Farol]

As the price of cigarettes in Portugal is controlled and you pay the same at the airport as anywhere else I suggest you don't give the airport your custom and buy as much as you want elsewhere.

[fmm]

As the price of cigarettes in Portugal is controlled and you pay the same at the airport as anywhere else I suggest you don't give the airport your custom and buy as much as you want elsewhere.

Really? It used to be far cheaper to purchase tobacco in the shop in Cvo. About 25% cheaper if I remember correctly?

[alf1956]

all the shops are the same price as the airport now asthe goverment insist on it&the price is on the packs of tobacco so there can be no confusion&you cant get any of the shops in carvoeiro to discount ti.

[Duffyboy5]

I have been trying to find somewhere on the uka web site to see if I could find a contact website regarding the notice at faro airport that says only 800 cigarettesvfornuk citizens. Bthis is purely discriminatory and I want fo know on whose authority this was put up. As it only mentions the uk and no other eu member it must be. The ukbacweb site had only links for immigration and asylum. Does anyone know which department I could write to because I certainly don't want letbthisvredt. Also in their web that there is no limit to alcohol and tobacco products that you can bringbintomthis country if they are for your personnel use or as presents and no money to be exchanged. That means you can bring more than 3200 cigarettes, wish i had done.
If anyone can help me with this please let me know, I dont want to do anything illegal I just want why Brits are being discriminated against at faro airport.

[cereza]

Although cigarettes are the same price in the airport and shops it used to be that if you paid by credit card the airport was the only place that didn't charge a fee for using a card - is this still the case?

[e-richard]

Most (many?) outlets in CVO are now absorbing the credit card charges and you pay the same. These outlets generally advertise the fact on boards outside the shop. Keep a watch out.