CUSTOMS

IMPORT REGULATIONS

 Pets

• Pets are subject to certain import requirements, and require permission from the relevant authorities.

Free to Import

Tobacco (restricted to travellers 18 years and over)

• 250 grams total of any tobacco products.

Alcohol (restricted to travellers 18 years and over)

One of the following:

• 1 litre of spirits; or
• 2 litres of wine.

Other goods and currency

• Perfume and eau de toilette up to 500mL, of which 125mL may be perfume.
• Personal goods up to the value of RF500,000.

Prohibited

The following are goods which cannot be brought into the country.

• Counterfeit currency and goods.
• Pornographic and obscene media.
• Matches manufactured with white phosphorus.
• Any article made without proper authority which bears the Armorial Ensign or Coat of Arms of a partner state.
• Distilled beverages containing essential oils or chemical products which are injurious to health.
• Narcotic drugs under international control.
• Hazardous wastes and their disposal.
• Any product containing mercury.
• Used tyres for light commercial vehicles and passenger cars.
• Some agricultural and industrial chemicals.

Restricted

These goods are strictly regulated, and in most cases require a permit to be obtained prior to arrival.

• Postal franking machines require a permit granted by a competent authority.
• Traps capable of killing or capturing game animals require a written permit.
• Unwrought precious metals and precious stones.
• Arms and ammunition specified under Chapter 93 of the Customs Nomenclature.
• Ossein and bones treated with acid.
• Other bones and horn - cores unworked, defatted, simply prepared, and waste of these products.
• Ivory, elephant unworked or simply prepared but not cut to shape.
• Teeth, hippopotamus, unworked or simply prepared but not cut to shape.
• Other ivory unworked or simply prepared but cut to shape.
• Ivory powder and waste.
• Tortoise shell, whalebone and whalebone hair, horns antlers, hooves, nails, claws and beaks, unworked or simply prepared but not cut to shape, powder and waste of these products.
• Coral and similar materials, unworked or simply prepared but not otherwise worked shells of molasses, crustaceans or echinoderms and cattle-bone, unworked or simply prepared but not cut to shape powder and waste thereof.
• Natural sponges of animal origin.
• Spent, irradiated fuel elements of nuclear reactors.
• Worked ivory and articles of ivory.
• Ozone depleting substances.
• Genetically modified products.
• Non-indigenous species of fish or egg of progeny.
• Psychotropic drugs under international control.
• Historical artefacts.
• Telescope sights or other optical devices suitable for use with arms.
• Bows, arrows, fencing foils, or toys under Chapter 95 of the Customs Nomenclature.
• Collectors' pieces or antiques guns and ammunition.
• Endangered animals, plants, and their derivative products protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) may require protected species permits.

EXPORT REGULATIONS

Free to Export

• Personal goods.

Prohibited

The following are goods which cannot be taken out of the country.

• All items on the prohibited import list.

Restricted

These goods are strictly regulated, and in most cases require a permit to be obtained prior to departure.

• All goods which are regulated under the EAC Customs Management Act.
• Waste and scrap of ferrous scrap iron.
• Timber from any wood grown in the Partner States of the EAC.
• Fresh unprocessed fish (Nile Perch and Tilapia).
• Wood charcoal.
• Protected species and products protected under CITES may require a permit for export.

For further information, please visit the Burundi Office of Revenue, and the East African Community Customs Management Act.