duty free allowance EU or not?

girne 29


Joined: 06/12/2007
Posts: 1488

Message Posted:
08/10/2009 17:51

If the EU says that the TRNC is in EU, is my duty free allowance when flying into UK, the same as when flying in from France or Germany.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
08/10/2009 18:08

The TRNC is not a part of the EU for duty free allowance's. Unless of course you can fly direct from the EU to the TRNC, you have to land somewhere else and Turkey is not a part of the EU at all. My last visitors had this argument with the duty free people at Stanstead and were told that flights to and from the TRNC did not qualify as flights to and from the EU for duty free reasons!

scruff


Joined: 15/07/2008
Posts: 1070

Message Posted:
08/10/2009 18:43

re. message 2.

This begs the question. What happens if there is a direct flight that doesn't touch down in Turkey. I know this happens on some flights from Stansted to Ercan. Does this never happen on the flights from Ercan to Stansted?

Smity



Joined: 14/09/2009
Posts: 826

Message Posted:
08/10/2009 18:52

The duty free allowance is the same as a NON EU cunrtry. If you fly from /to Northern Cyprus,

girne 29


Joined: 06/12/2007
Posts: 1488

Message Posted:
08/10/2009 20:05

Interesting one. So EU laws applying to the ROC do not apply to the TRNC.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
09/10/2009 09:18

HM C&R do not consider TRNC to be in EU for VAT purposes.

harryroberts


Joined: 05/05/2009
Posts: 117

Message Posted:
09/10/2009 15:51

Interesting one. So EU laws applying to the ROC do not apply to the TRNC.



yes that is correct

Cyprus is a full member of the EU however the membership of the north is suspended untill there is a just and viable settlement.



according to international law there is only one official government of cyprus

spondoolics


Joined: 13/06/2009
Posts: 73

Message Posted:
09/10/2009 16:13

Yet, when it comes to the orams case, the ECHR, or the Aquis, suspended by the RoC, TRNC is in the EU. Incidentally, legaly, the RoC does not exist, as I am sure the more vociferous amongst us will confirm.

harryroberts


Joined: 05/05/2009
Posts: 117

Message Posted:
11/10/2009 14:25

, legaly, the RoC does not exist, as I am sure the more vociferous amongst us will confirm.





which is international reconised part of cyprus and what is it called?

girne 29


Joined: 06/12/2007
Posts: 1488

Message Posted:
11/10/2009 16:17

So where have I come from, when leaving Ercan .



Never mind all this aquis stuff. The northern part of cyprus exists.Is it part of the ROC? ,if yes then I want my allowance, if not then I want to fly direct.



Maybe next time I will trawl the net and print off any statement from ROC that Northern Cyprus is part of ROC and see what customs say.

gbuck


Joined: 29/06/2009
Posts: 14

Message Posted:
11/10/2009 17:48

Maybe next time I will trawl the net and print off any statement from ROC that Northern Cyprus is part of ROC and see what customs say.







Yes the ROC considers the whole island as under its jurisdiction, as does the UN (see UN resolutions) and the whole international community, except for Turkey. The north is currently under foreign occupation, and therefore all EU laws are suspended until a settlement occurs.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
11/10/2009 18:09

This has been a tried and discussed argument at LHR but customs have always given way, to me anyway. Disclose only the Ercan boarding card and let them indicate where you've come from, then ask what is the EU status of Cyprus by HMG!



Richard

girne 29


Joined: 06/12/2007
Posts: 1488

Message Posted:
11/10/2009 19:31

Its simple then



If the Army of Occupation leaves, then the unoccupied TRNC can be recognised.



All these years of embargoes and this was all that was needed. The trnc can safely exist and the Turkish Army is only a few miles away should they be needed,if for example the Greek ROC decides to occupy the TRNC.

Sideways



Joined: 21/01/2009
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
11/10/2009 22:19

I had a leaflet from H.M customs with a drawing of the whole of cyprus in one colour. Therefore it was regarded as one country.

I keep this with me when returning in case I get stopped going through the E.U. exit with my ciggies.

Johnatcastle


Joined: 23/07/2009
Posts: 163

Message Posted:
11/10/2009 23:19

I can DEFINITELY STATE that customs in the UK will NOT allow E.U. limits/allowances for flights arriving from Ercan. My mother and father were stopped this weekend and had over their allowance for NON E.U. countries. The customs officials would not allow them to keep any of their ciggies. NOT EVEN THE 200 ALLOWED !!. They said they were not entitled to their allowance due to the fact they tried to smuggle!

My father is not the sort to lay down and give it up easily and argued VERY STRONGLY (much to my mothers embarrassment!) that Cyprus as a whole is in the E.U. The officials (my father asked for their superiors btw...LOL) would not accept this and removed all their ciggies for destruction. Gave them a stern warning and a stamped letter explaining what would happen if they done it again and then sent them on their way.

They won't be doing/trying it again........ It was LHR by the way..

Don't think that leaflet would do it for you sideways but I wish you the best of luck anyway.

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
11/10/2009 23:41

New restrictions to take into Turkey as printed in a newspaper there yesterday, now 2 boxes of cigs instead of 3 and 3 ltrs of spirits instead of 5, these restrictions are mainly to ensure harmonization with EU regulations.

Turkey is a non EU country.

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 00:07

www.taxfreetravel.com EU Duty free allowances. 27 current EU countries including Cyprus(not Northern Turkish region).

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk Though the whole of Cyprus is part of the EU goods from any area of Cyprus not under effective control of the Republic of Cyprus are treated as non EU imports.