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Written question asked by Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party) on Monday, 13 July 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 July 2026. It was answered by Lord Livermore (Labour) on Friday, 17 July 2026 on behalf of the Treasury.

Tobacco: Duty Free Allowances

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government when the duty-free allowance for cigarettes when travelling from an EU airport to the UK was introduced; how and when it has changed over the last ten years; and what the rationale for any change was.

Answer

Following the UK's departure from the EU, duty-free allowances, including for cigarettes, were reintroduced for travellers arriving in Great Britain from EU member states.

This change took place at the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020.

Duty free allowances do not apply for travellers from the EU arriving in Northern Ireland. The enforcement controls required at the border to facilitate these allowances would run counter to the shared ambitions of the UK and the EU set out in the Windsor Framework and the principle of the frictionless movement of people and goods between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

There have been no changes to the duty free allowance for cigarettes since 2020.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL2040
Session
2026-27
Subjects
EU countries Duty free allowances Tobacco
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk