EU considers cutting cross-border cigarette allowance to 200 cigarettes

In brief

• The EU is weighing a cut in the duty-free cigarette allowance for travellers from other member states.
• A draft from the Irish presidency proposes 200 cigarettes instead of the current four cartons.
• Finance ministers could discuss the rule on Monday, and it would apply from 2028 after national implementation.

Proposed cap of 200 cigarettes

A draft paper from the Irish EU presidency suggests travellers could in future bring in only one carton, or 200 cigarettes, for personal use from other EU countries (Rauchen: EU will Freimenge für Zigaretten deutlich senken – DER SPIEGEL). The current allowance is four cartons (EU-Regeln zu Tabak: Zigaretten-Freimenge bei Einreise aus EU-Ausland könnte sinken – ZEIT ONLINE). According to the document, EU finance ministers could take up the rule at a meeting on Monday afternoon.

Divided member states

Some member states had argued for a limit of two cartons, or 400 cigarettes, while others pushed for a single carton. The figure of 200 is now written into the text, but each country can soften the rule and raise the allowance on its own territory.

Timetable

The rule is part of the EU tobacco tax directive. Member states would have to transpose its requirements into national law next year, and the new limits would apply from the start of 2028.

Impact on border trade

The stricter rule could sharply reduce the number of cigarettes that people bring into Germany from neighbouring countries such as Luxembourg, Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic. Cigarettes are notably cheaper in several of these countries, which is why cross-border purchases are common in border regions (Tabakwaren: Zigaretten-Freimenge aus EU-Ausland könnte deutlich sinken – ZEIT ONLINE).