Shopping trips abroad no more than once a week

The State Border Committee imposed restrictions on bringing food and alcohol into the country.

The new rules come into force on August 1, Komsomolskaya Pravda v Belarusi writes.

“We were returning from Lithuania yesterday. A customs officer at Kamenny Loh checkpoint warned that the rules of bringing alcohol into the country would be changed next day [on August 1]. One person will be allowed to bring one litre of alcohol instead of three litres,” a Belarusian, who crossed the Lithuanian-Belarusian border on foot, said.

Internet users actively discuss the new rules on forums. Some recommend to stop panicking and wait for an official document. Others call border checkpoints, but customs officers say they don't know about the changes.

No news about the relative law or decree appeared on the website of the State Customs Committee. However, the Committee's press service say they have the document for official use and advised to read recommendations of bringing food into the country. Some changes were found in the recommendations.

The current rules are as follows:

– if you cross the border once in 8 days or less, you can bring up to 3 litres of alcohol into Belarus;

– if you cross the border once in 7 days or more, you must follow the new rules. You can bring one litre of alcohol if you use any vehicle (car, train, bus, plane) to cross the border. The rules say one person can bring no more than 5 kg of food, including one litre of alcohol;

– if you cross the border once a week or more on foot or on a bicycle, you can bring 0.5 litres of alcohol into Belarus.