The European Commission has adopted a proposal to increase the amounts which travellers can bring in to the EU without payment of duty.

• The current threshold of €175 is to be increased to €500 for air travellers and to €220 for other travellers.
• The limits based on quantity for perfume, coffee and tea are to be abolished, but a new quantity limit for beer is to be introduced.
• Quantity limits for cigarettes may be reduced at the discretion of Member States

The existing limit of €175 has been in place since 1994.