2023-07-08 12:34:00
Going on vacation by plane? Beware of the souvenirs you plan to bring back to Belgium. Last year, 4,231 offenses were recorded by customs at Brussels Airport.
Whether intentionally or innocently, many Belgians get stopped by customs when they return from vacation. Blame it on the contents of their suitcase. During this holiday period, customs officers are particularly attentive to counterfeits and illegal imports.
For the clothes, “if it is counterfeit, they will be destroyed and the brands have the right to file a complaint or not. If it is not counterfeit, we will consider that it is the importation of goods and merchandise and it is up to the traveler to pay the import and VAT rates“, explains Emmanuel, a customs officer.
The most frequent offenses are related to the counterfeiting of clothing or the transport of jewellery. Goods with a value of more than 430 euros must imperatively be declared. “If you declare them, you will pay the import duties and also the VAT, but if you do not declare it, you will pay the same thing with an additional fine”, warns Kristian Vanderwaeren, the general administrator of customs. The fine in question can go up to 750 euros.
Another common offence: carrying cash. An amount greater than 10,000 euros must also be reported. This year, more than two million undeclared euros were seized by customs.
holiday customs
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