CUSTOMS

IMPORT REGULATIONS

Pets

When travelling within EU

• Animals are subject to a mandatory health inspection at the first point of entry on EU territory.
• They must have a valid European pet passport. This must contain the identification of the animal and the owner.
• They must also have a microchip or tattoo, and have been properly vaccinated against rabies.
• Rabies vaccinations can be given from the age of 12 weeks.
• A Common Veterinary Entry Document certifying the healthy inspection must be provided with the customs declaration.

When travelling from outside the EU

• Your pet must be identified by a microchip.
• If your dog or cat is staying in Belgium longer than 6 months, they must be registered in the DogID/CatID database within 8 days of your arrival.
• Your pet must be validly vaccinated against rabies.
• You must have a blood test for antibodies against rabies if you are not travelling from a country that is on the list of Annex II of the European Regulation.
• If you are travelling from a country on this list, then no blood test is required.
• The blood test must take place 30 days after their rabies vaccination. If the sampling and examinations are taken outside the EU, your pet may not travel to Belgium until 3 months later.
• The test must be carried out in an EU-approved laboratory.
• The results must be higher than 0.5 IU/ml and remains valid for life.
• A health certificate is required if your pet does not have an EU passport and/or if the vaccination took place in a third country.
• The health certificate should be issued by an official veterinarian in the country of departure no less than 10 days before you depart.
• If these conditions are not met, it may be necessary to isolate, quarantine, return the animal to the country of origin or even euthanise them to avoid the risk of introducing and spreading diseases.

For further information, please visit the Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety, and Environment Travelling with pets.

 Free to Import

When travelling within EU

There are no limits on the amount of alcohol and tobacco a traveller can bring in within the EU. The goods must be for personal use or as a gift and they must have had duty and tax paid in the EU country where they were acquired. Customs officials may require proof of intent if more than all the following is imported.

Tobacco (restricted to travellers 17 years and over)

• 800 cigarettes;
• 400 cigarillos (max 3g each);
• 200 cigars;
• 1kg smoking tobacco.

Alcohol (restricted to travellers 17 years and over)

• 10 litres of spirits over 22%;
• 20 litres of alcoholic beverages, other than either wine or beer, less than 22% volume;
• 90 litres of wine (with a maximum 60 litres of sparkling wine);
• 110 litres of beer.

Currency

• There are no restrictions on the importation of currency into the EU.
• Funds of more than €10,000 must be declared to the customs authorities.
  

When travelling from outside the EU

If entering the EU from outside, passengers may bring with them duty-free goods for personal use within the limits set out below. The same applies if coming from the Canary Islands, the Channel Islands, Gibraltar or other territories where EU rules on VAT do not apply.

Tobacco (restricted to travellers 17 years and over)

One of the following:

• 200 cigarettes;
• 100 cigarillos;
• 50 cigars;
• 250g of smoking tobacco; or
• A proportional combination of these goods (such as 100 cigarettes and 50 cigarillos).

Alcohol (restricted to travellers 17 years and over)

One of the following:

• 1 litre exceeding 22% alcohol volume; or
• 2 litres up to 22% alcohol volume.

In addition, both of the following:

• 4 litres of still wine; and
• 16 litres of beer.

Other Goods free from duty

• Medicines for personal use.
• Personal items of non-commercial nature worth up to €430 when travelling by air.
• Personal items of non-commercial nature worth up to €300 when travelling by land or sea.
• Personal items of non-commercial nature worth up to €175 for travellers under 15 years of age.

Prohibited

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

• Counterfeit and pirated goods.
• Weapons such as switch blades and air guns are prohibited.

Restricted

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

• Weapons such as firearms and ammunition require a permit. For further information, please visit the Federal Public Service website.
• Endangered animals, plants, and their derivative products protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) may require protected species permits. For further information, please visit the Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety, and Environment CITES.
• Fruit and vegetables may only be brought into the EU if they are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by an official authority from the country of origin. If you do not have this certificate, the goods will be confiscated and destroyed upon arrival if found. You can find information about obtaining a phytosanitary certificate here.
• The only fruits that can enter without a certificate are pineapples, coconuts, durian fruit, bananas and dates.
• Meat and dairy products are allowed from EU countries, and a small amount for personal use may be allowed from some non-EU countries. For further information, please visit here.

EXPORT REGULATIONS

Free to Export

• No restriction on the quantity and value of exported items when leaving for a country outside the EU.

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.

• There are no restrictions on the export of currency if leaving for another EU country. Funds of more than   €10,000 must be declared when leaving the EU.
• Protected species and products protected under CITES. A permit is required for export.
• Cultural goods may require an export certificate. For further information, please visit Belgian Customs Cultural Goods.

For further information, please visit Belgian Customs, and the European Commission Taxation and Customs Union.