Shopping Limit: Parcel – 22 Euro, Suitcase – 300 Euro

New limits on goods purchased abroad are introduced in Belarus.

Soon Belarusians will be able to receive duty-free parcels for personal use from abroad in the amount of no more than 22 euros per month and a maximum weight of 10 kilograms.

The innovation will affect private trips. Corresponding changes are spelled out in Lukashenka's decree № 40 of February 11, the National Legal Internet Portal reports.

“Customs payments are not paid in respect of goods for personal use, sent by international mail to one physical person, located on the territory of the republic, within a calendar month, and (or) or imported into the country to one addressee as goods delivered by the carrier within a calendar month, if the customs value of such goods does not exceed an amount equivalent to 22 euros as a whole, and the total weight does not exceed 10 kilograms in bulk,”– the National legal Internet portal informs.

Also, now the Belarusians who cross the border more than once in three months and import goods worth more than 300 euros, or weighing more than 20 kilograms, are also have to pay customs duty.

– According to the study, which was carried out by the State Customs Committee and the National Statistical Committee last year, more than 70% of citizens who left the Republic of Belarus imported goods worth up to € 300, – Deputy Chairman of the Customs Committee Uladzimir Arlouski substantiates the innovation on air of the TV channel Belarus 1. – In the European Union the limit of import of goods by road and rail border crossing amounts to 300 euros. Therefore, the limit spelled out in the decree is even softer. As it is 300 euros regardless of frequency of visits in the European Union.

The decree comes into force in two months after its official publication, tut.by notes.

Today Belarusians can get duty-free parcels for personal use from abroad in the amount of no more than 200 euros per month (regardless of the number of purchases). If the limit is exceeded, one has to pay 30% of the excess amount. This limit amounts to 1000 euros and 31 kg per month in Russia.

The fact that purchases of the Belarusians in foreign online stores were planned to put to rights, was stated by Minister of Trade Valiantsin Chakanau in March 2015. Later this information was confirmed by chairman of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Miasnikovich.

In November last year the EAEC countries were considering the issue of imposing a tax on purchases in foreign online stores. One of the options offered by the Eurasian Economic Commission was to introduce a fee of 15 euros on all parcels from abroad which were more expensive than 22 euros and 1 kilogram heavier. But later the idea to introduce a tax was declined.

Back in late January, chairman of the State Customs Committee of Belarus Yury Sianko announced that the Belarusian Customs did not consider it necessary to impose restrictions on receiving parcels for personal use from abroad. Although in December 2015 the official said that Belarus may impose new limits on such parcels. Among the options of the limits, which were under consideration, there was restriction of online purchases abroad amounted to 200 euros per year, as well as introduction of new limits on the weight of parcels.

As noted by the State Customs Committee, the number of parcels with goods from abroad to Belarus almost doubled in 2015. For example, the number of Belarusian users, who paid for online purchases through Yandeks.Kassa on Chinese online sites, has increased in 2,5 times over the last year.