Russia changes customs rule to allow passengers travelling by plane to bring more duty-free goods.

Move One Inc has notified The Mover that a new Russian customs rule was scheduled to come into effect from August.  Passengers travelling to Russia by plane will now be allowed to bring with them more duty-free goods. The permitted duty-free threshold is to be increased from the current euro 1,500 to a new limit of euro 10,000.

The new rule will only apply to passengers travelling by plane. Those entering by rail, road or sea will still be limited to a maximum value of euro 1,500 of customs-free goods.

If a passenger exceeds the duty-free amount they will be charged up to 30% of the goods’ value and a minimum rate of euro 4 per kilogram.

Addressing concerns over the possible misuse of the new regulation, a spokesman for the Economic Development Ministry said, “Smuggling should be fought with complex measures – monitoring the routes, trailing certain groups of people … not through creating additional problems for law-abiding citizens.”

Although this change is generally welcomed by travellers, there has been some opposition to the changes in regulation. Several highly placed customs officials have disagreed with the threshold, claiming that the previous regulations were already sufficiently liberal. Representatives of clothing and footwear industries have also expressed their disagreement, fearing an influx of low-priced foreign brands.

Due to their Customs Union membership, the same duty-free increase will also apply to goods going into Belarus and Kazakhstan.