Traveling is always wonderful, especially when combined with shopping. Not every tourist will refuse to bring foreign alcohol with him as a souvenir. But here's the bad luck: at customs, alcohol is taken very seriously. Border guards can localize, and sometimes even completely ban the import of alcohol into Russia. What to do in this situation? With bitterness, forget about an expensive souvenir? Of course not. After all, you can open the Customs Code and understand all the intricacies of the transportation of foreign alcohol. But it’s even better to read our material, which details the standards for the import of alcohol into Russia in 2018.
Customs and rules for the export of goods
Customs is called a specialized government agency involved in the control of the transport of various goods across the Russian border. This can be special types of luggage, post offices, large cargoes and much more. For transported goods, customs authorities levy fees and duties. Lovers of overseas shopping know this firsthand. So, for a bottle of alcohol bought in Europe at a domestic customs office, a duty can be levied that is twice the cost of the product itself.
The representatives of the customs authority have a list of things, the import of which is simply prohibited. This is both illegal production (drugs or some types of weapons), and quite legitimate. For example, the import of alcohol into Russia by individuals is strictly limited. This should be remembered by all domestic tourists.
Customs authorities are located at checkpoints across the state border. It can be air, sea, railway or automobile stations. At each such point, an individual may be required to fill out a special declaration if he carries the following things:
- traveller's checks worth over 10 thousand dollars;
- up to 5 kg of fish or seafood;
- personal jewelry or valuables;
- cash up to 3 thousand dollars.
Existing baggage is always checked. Customs officers are trying to clarify the number of cash carried. If it turns out that the quantity of goods exceeds the data indicated in the application, a protocol will be drawn up on violation of the customs rules of Russia. At the same time, the import of alcohol into Russia per person is calculated. The rule applies: 3 liters - 1 person. So, if spouses go on vacation, they can pass control in turn with different luggage.
Thus, everything is always strict at the border. Not only organizations, but also individuals should be very careful when transporting goods from other countries. This is especially true for the importation of alcohol into Russia - the procedure is quite complicated and lengthy.
Import of alcohol by individuals
Do not be cunning, the choice of alcohol in our country is quite wide. However, it can never be compared with the assortment that many European states offer. That is why so many domestic travelers choose alcohol as a souvenir. The Russian government is moving towards tourists. Authorities understand that a ban on the import of alcohol into Russia would be a miniature of prohibition. However, some restrictions are nevertheless established, and every Russian should know about them.
Current legislation allows the import of alcohol to persons over 18 years of age. Citizenship of the person does not matter, as well as the type of alcoholic drink. For alcohol with a volume of more than three, but less than five liters, 10 euros should be paid for each additional liter. Thus, the surcharge may exceed the cost of imported products, and therefore it is necessary to prepare for this in advance.
Together with alcoholic products, you need to bring a check, which should indicate the exact value of the goods. Keep in mind that customs officers will not miss things worth more than 300 euros. The exception is only passengers of sea or air transport: they are allowed to carry goods worth up to 430 euros.
The norms for importing alcohol into Russia are such that individuals are required to indicate the goods being transported as a gift or for their own use. Goods brought from abroad cannot be used for commercial or industrial activities.
And what if the volume of imported alcohol does not exceed three liters? Everything is very simple here. Written statements will not be needed, only an oral warning to customs officers will suffice.
Features of duty free shopping
Some Russians are convinced for some reason that the purchase of goods in duty-free shops gives them the preemptive right to import them into Russia. This is an erroneous judgment, because such stores put up for sale cheap products that are easy to export abroad. As for the import, then everything is completely different. Duty free shops are located in another country, and therefore, their owners cannot take into account Russian customs regulations.
Priority is still given to the amount of alcohol transported. No one can violate the “Three Liter Rule” with surpluses of 10 euros, and therefore the issue of the place of purchase of alcohol does not play any role. Unless you can buy alcohol in a duty-free store a little cheaper.
Responsibility for importing excess alcohol
The rules for importing alcohol into Russia prohibit taking more than 5 liters of alcohol with you. What responsibility can be expected for those who decide to violate established standards? It is worth taking a look at the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. According to Article 16.2, customs officers may charge a fine of up to 50-200% of the value of undeclared goods from the offender.
An optional, that is, an additional punishment may be the confiscation of the transported goods. Most often, customs officials do this. In fact, the rate of import of alcohol into Russia in the amount of three liters simply ceases to work. After all, customs officers simply take all the alcohol.
For individuals, the rules for importing alcohol into Russia are not as stringent as for organizations. Especially lucky for people living on the border. So, the law does not regulate the number of customs border crossings per day. In theory, the same person can leave the country several times, bringing with him the necessary quantity of goods. At the same time, do not underestimate the capabilities of customs officers: they have the right to independently determine the goals that a citizen pursues. So, an individual who has bought alcohol several times abroad may be suspected of committing commercial transactions. A person will be fined.
Rules for the import of alcohol into Russia from the countries of the Customs Union
As you know, a number of post-Soviet states concluded an agreement among themselves, forming the Customs Union. This is a confederate association whose goal is to create a simplified procedure for the import and export of goods. At present, the union includes five states: Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. Tunisia and Syria wanted to join the union several years ago.
A feature of the union is the ability to transport any legal goods without paying customs duties. For example, the import of alcohol into Russia from Kazakhstan will be much easier to organize than, for example, from Italy. What is important, there is no ban on the transportation of alcoholic products with a volume of more than five liters. However, members of the union are already thinking about a norm that imposes a restriction on the volume of transported alcohol. It is planned to levy a fine of up to 5 thousand rubles and the subsequent confiscation of goods.
Thus, the restriction of the import of alcohol into Russia in 2018 is quite realistic. This is due to the fact that Kazakhstan is on the list of leaders in the production of low-quality and counterfeit alcohol. Russian lawmakers decided to protect compatriots from possible troubles. But nothing better than limiting the volume of imported products, they have not yet come up with.
So, what are the benefits of the Customs Union? Having visited Belarus or the countries of post-Soviet Asia, a Russian will be able to not pay customs duty for goods purchased there. Everything will be a little more complicated with the amount of transported products: as it turned out, in the coming years, customs officers may introduce new restrictions.
Filling out a declaration
In order not to have any problems, you need to correctly calculate the amount of alcohol transported, as well as fill out a special declaration. It will be issued at the checkpoint in two copies. The request for the document is carried out at the customs desk located along the perimeter of the red corridor of the checkpoint (checkpoint). Border guards will provide the necessary form and even help fill it out. You must enter your passport details, address of registration and actual residence. If an individual carries minor children with him, their information should also be indicated.
The following is the exact amount of alcohol carried. Customs officers will ask for checks in order to verify the value indicated in the declaration with the real price of the goods. The norms according to which the import of alcohol into Russia is allowed are constantly changing, and therefore the allowable price of the goods can be updated periodically.
At the bottom of the document is a signature and the date of its completion. One copy remains with the citizen, the other is handed over to the customs officers for verification. The application is carefully analyzed, after which the alcohol is transferred to the person for successful transportation.
What happens if a foreign person violates the customs rules for the import of alcohol into Russia? Despite the principle of maintaining responsibility in the absence of knowledge of the law, customs officers try not to punish offending foreigners. An explanatory conversation will be held with the citizen regarding the permitted quantity of goods and the procedure for declaring them. If the foreigner does not have the means to pay the fee at all, the product will go to a temporary storage warehouse. In the future, a person will be able to pick up drinks, but only by paying a fee. It should be borne in mind that the storage of any product in the warehouse is a paid procedure.
Alcohol in the cabin
There are several major airlines in the Russian Federation. Accordingly, the rules for the consumption of alcoholic beverages in each company may be different. However, the law nevertheless establishes certain rules governing the transportation and drinking of alcoholic beverages in the air transport cabin.
The import of alcohol into Russia in 2018 is allowed if its strength is not more than 70%. So, drinks like moonshine, vodka, absinthe or something similar cannot be transported. Each bottle must be separately wrapped. All appropriate labels, markings and excises must be affixed on top of the packaging. It is forbidden to transport alcohol in containers that are third-party from the manufacturer. A strict taboo is imposed on home-made alcohol.
Almost all airlines warn of the inadmissibility of the transport of alcohol in children's luggage. This is a very peculiar, but valid everywhere rule. About how to properly pack alcohol, they can tell at the airport itself, but it is better to know in advance. There are no special requirements, there is only one important condition: maintaining the integrity of the packaging. The bottle should be in a thick suitcase with soft things, such as clothes. Do not place heavy or hard objects near alcohol. Putting glass containers is better in the middle of the bag, but not at the side of the suitcase. So there will be less chances to break a bottle.
Now it’s worth talking about the direct drinking of alcohol on board the aircraft. In Russia, there are not many companies introducing prohibition in the cabs of their vehicles. Moreover, sober behavior is more likely to be advisory in nature. If a passenger quietly drank and fell asleep, no one would fine him for this. Sanctions will be applied only to violent and inadequate passengers.
The most liberal airline in this regard in Russia is Aeroflot. Almost every ship of this company has a small bar. You can ask the stewardess for a menu. But immediately it is worth considering that the richness of choice and taste of the air bars do not shine.
Registration of bulk consignments of alcohol
For the import into Russia of alcohol in an amount of more than 5 liters, you must have the status of a legal entity. In this case, the form of the organization, its status or occupation will not matter. The transportation of goods from abroad always presents the same requirements. A legal entity must undergo customs clearance. This is a special bureaucratic process complicated by Russia's accession to the World Trade Union (WTO).
All necessary norms regarding the transport of bulk quantities of alcohol are contained in the Federal Law "On Customs Regulation in the Russian Federation". So, in 2018, a legal entity is required to fill out a special declaration issued at customs. The document contains information about the sender and recipient of the goods. Additionally, it is worth submitting papers indicating the payment of a fee.
There are also a number of additional documents that a legal entity can fill out. This is a statement on the movement of goods to a temporary storage warehouse, on trust for transportation by customs officers and much more.
The main difference in the transportation of bulk in the transportation of goods by individuals is the amount of alcohol. For the import into Russia of large volumes of alcohol, it is necessary to have a special permit obtained from the executive authority. The organization involved in the transportation of alcohol must enter into a special contract with a clear indication of the quantity of products transported.
The amount of alcohol allowed for import into Russia is not limited by anything. Unless the state itself can issue licenses with a limited duration. All transported alcohol is marked with excise stamps, after which it is entered into a single electronic control system for alcohol-containing drinks.
Stamps, licenses and excise taxes
Trademarks are glued directly onto a bottle of alcohol. This is a mandatory rule. An importer who decides to take alcohol without labeling will be punished with the full severity of the law. This concerns, however, only legal entities. Huge fines can be imposed on the conveyor, and all products will be at risk of confiscation.
So why are labeling and licensing so important? Firstly, it is an indicator of quality. Residents of the Russian Federation who want to bring foreign alcohol to their homeland must take care of its quality. Stamps are issued directly at customs. Border guards check the documentation attached to the goods, after which they issue a license and label the goods. A sticker is charged for each sticker. Labeling costs fluctuate, but in 2018 it was set at 1,700 rubles per 1,000 stickers. Value added tax is not taken into account, it is paid separately.
What exactly is indicated on the stamps? This is a QR code, product name, place of origin and quantity. The sticker is fixed with waterproof glue on the free part of the product. At the same time, a report is generated in which the number of marked goods and the accompanying duty are indicated.
Wholesale consignments of alcohol are subject to mandatory certification. On the territory of Russia and the EEC countries, the procedure is implemented according to the technical regulations TR-TS 021/2011. Alcoholic beverages are labeled according to a single standard, after which they enter the market.
Thus, there are no restrictions on the import of alcohol into Russia. But social realities, coupled with an unstable political situation, give reason to think about the future. How long will the Russian authorities keep the existing trading system? No one knows the answer to this question yet.
Import of products to Russia
Having dealt with alcohol, it is worth paying a little attention to other things that are also subject to transportation. This, for example, tobacco, animals, jewelry and other unusual things that may come in handy as foreign souvenirs. It should immediately be noted that none of the above is allowed for carriage. Taboo is imposed only on drugs, vegetables and fruits without a license, weapons, human flesh and documents with state secrets.
You can transport animals, but you have to suffer with them. Not earlier than a month before the departure of the pet will have to be vaccinated. All medical documentation must be transferred to customs. The weight of the animal along with the cage is taken into account in the total weight of the baggage.
If you need to transport jewelry, government awards, medicines, tobacco, cultural property or large finances, you will need to fill out a declaration. This is a simple procedure. They will tell the person exactly how to fill out the document directly at customs.