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European Parliament wants to keep duty-free shopping at land borders, regional airports |
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08:30, November 19, 2008 |
The European Parliament on Tuesday voted to keep duty-free shopping at regional airports and at the European Union's external land borders.
This position was part of a vote on European Commission plans to update the rules on excise duties. The commission's original proposal suggested that air and sea travelers should have access to duty-free purchases only when their immediate destination was outside the EU.
The European Parliament adopted a report by a small majority 328-319 with 34 abstentions.
Other amendments to the European Commission proposal set out whether there should be guidelines for the amount of alcohol and tobacco citizens can take across borders.
Individuals are allowed to buy alcohol and tobacco duty-paid in one member state and transport it to another member state without paying further duty if it is for their own personal use. The European Parliament wants current EU legislation, which sets out indicative guidelines for what quantities could be considered for personal use, to remain. The commission had wanted to scrap them.
On distance selling, the European Parliament backed the commission's proposal that excise duty for those goods will be paid in the country of destination.
As usual with tax policy, the parliament's position is only consultative and the final decision is taken by unanimity in the Council of Ministers.
Source:Xinhua
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