CUSTOMS

IMPORT REGULATIONS

Pets

Animals travelling to The Netherlands from an EU country require the following:

• A microchip or tattoo (the latter needs to be dated before 3 July 2011). Microchips must comply with ISO 11784 standards and be read with an ISO 11785 compliant reader.
• A rabies vaccination. The animal must be aged at least 12 weeks or older and be given at least 21 days prior to departure.
• A Common Veterinary Health Certificate certifying the healthy inspection must be provided with the customs declaration.
• A valid pet passport containing information on the identification of the animal and a record of the animal's rabies vaccination.

Animals travelling to The Netherlands from a non-EU country or state require the following:

• A health certificate provided by an official veterinarian from the country of origin, which will include information about the animal's identification and health.
• A microchip or tattoo (the latter needs to be dated before 3 July 2011). Microchips must comply with ISO 11784 standards and be read with an ISO 11785 compliant reader.
• A rabies vaccination. This must be valid at the time of travelling. The vaccination must have taken place at least 21 days prior to departure with verification from an official veterinarian.
• At least three months before travelling, the animal will need to conduct a rabies antibody test in an EU-approved laboratory. The test result should be 0.5 IU/ml or above. The sample must be analysed in an EU-approved laboratory.
• Some countries and territories are exempt from needing an antibody test. They are:

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Ascension Island, Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Bermuda, BES Islands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba), Bosnia-Herzegovina, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Curaçao, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Great Britain, Guernesey, Hong Kong, Ile de Man, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Russia, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre et Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Sint Maarten, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United States of America (including Guam, American Samoa, Northern Marian Islands, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands), Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.

• Dogs, cats and ferrets accompanying their owner from Andorra, Croatia, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland or Vatican City State are subject to the same health requirements as dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from a EU Member state.

For further information, please visit the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.

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.

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;
• 50 cigars;
• 250g of smoking tobacco; or
• A proportional combination of these goods.

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.

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.

Other Goods free from duty

• Medicines for personal use. Travellers may be asked to provide a prescription for certain medications.
• Personal items of non-commercial nature worth up to €430 when travelling by air or sea.
• Personal items of non-commercial nature worth up to €300 when travelling by land.

Prohibited

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

• Weapons, ammunition, and explosives, including objects that resemble real weapons.
• Counterfeit articles may not be imported if the traveller intends to use them for commercial purposes (but can be brought if only for personal use).
• Drugs such as hashish, cocaine, and heroin.

Restricted

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

• 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 Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
• Weapons used for hunting, shooting, and airsoft sports may be imported with a permit. For further information, please visit the Central Import and Export Office.
• Certain cultural goods, such as art and antiques, may require a licence to be imported. For further information, please visit the State Inspectorate for Cultural Heritage.
• Food products of animal origin, such as meat, dairy, and eggs, may only be imported from outside the EU with a health certificate.
• 2kg of products of animal origin such as milk powder, baby food, and food for medical purposes can be brought in personal baggage as long as they are still packaged and do not require refrigeration.
• Most plants, flowers, fruit, and vegetables require a phytosanitary certificate if they are being imported from outside the EU. If the quantity is below 5kg, this certificate may not be required. For further information, please visit Phytosanitary Products.
• Due to sanctions against Russia, it is prohibited to purchase certain goods in Russia and import them into the EU. Please check here for a full list of products that are banned from being imported from Russia.

EXPORT REGULATIONS

Free to Export

• No restriction for the quantity and value of exported items when leaving to non-E.U. countries.

Prohibited

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

• All items in 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 a licence for export. For further information, please visit the State Inspectorate for Cultural Heritage.

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