Parcels and postal items from a third

country
Parcels and postal items from outside the EU may be deliv- ZOLL
Specific provisions concerning postal consignments from
ered directly to the recipient if:
third countries and EU Member States
■ the consignment does not contain goods that are subject
Parcels and postal items containing goods that are subject
to import prohibitions and restrictions and/or specific
to import prohibitions, restrictions and/or specific surveil-
form requirements (such as certain approvals), and
lance measures, will not normally be handed over to the
■ it is accompanied by fully and properly completed docu- recipient.
ments and particulars
The withdrawal of the UK from the EU as of February 2020
Any applicable import duties may normally be paid at the is followed by a transitional period until at least 31 Decem-
time of delivery. ber 2020, during which no modifications to customs law
Transport by courier services will come into force. During this period, the provisions
applicable to postal shipments from the EU shall continue
If your parcel or postal item is shipped by a courier service,
to apply.
that courier service takes care of the entire customs clear-
ance process for you. Please see the terms and conditions
of the respective courier service to find out what their pro-
cedures and services are. Service
Transport by Deutsche Post AG For further information, please contact the central
Deutsche Post AG, the German Postal Service, will redirect information unit at German customs:
the consignment to your local customs office whenever
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm
documents or particulars are missing, or there are doubts
as to the legitimacy of an import. In this case, Deutsche Carusufer 3 – 5 Phone: 03 51 / 4 48 34 - 5 30
Post AG will notify you in writing, informing you of the 01099 Dresden Fax: 03 51 / 4 48 34 - 5 90
competent customs office, the missing particulars or docu- Email: enquiries.english@zoll.de
ments, and the period of time for which your consignment
will be held.
You can submit the necessary documentation to the
responsible customs office and complete the customs
clearance process yourself or, alternatively, have Deutsche
Post AG act on your behalf for a fee. To do so, send the

Customs and
notification together with the required documents to the
customs office indicated. If you choose this latter option,

postal services –
it may take longer to receive your consignment. IMPRINT
Published by: Design and production:

Parcels and postal items sent from Central Customs Authority Central Customs Authority,

e-commerce
– Public Relations – Training and Knowledge Centre of the

within the EU Am Propsthof 78 a

53121 Bonn (Germany)
federal revenue administration
Photos:
Last updated: MEV, CCVision
Parcels and postal items arriving from EU Member States January 2020
can be delivered directly to the recipient as long as they do
Parcels and postal items from abroad
Registriation ID:
not contain any goods that are subject to import prohibi- 90 SAB 245

tions, restrictions, specific surveillance measures and/or

specific form requirements (such as approvals).
From third countries: From third countries and EU Member States:
Import duties – typical cases Import prohibitions and restrictions
The following import duties may be charged on your goods: ■ Product safety:
ZOLL Customs duties: All goods are subject to their own Apart from the rules on the collection of import duties, In order to protect consumers against unsafe products
specific duty rate certain prohibitions and restrictions, and/or specific from abroad (such as certain laser pointers, e-cigarettes or
surveillance measures, may also apply, depending on the goods without the required CE marking), only goods pro-
EUSt Import VAT: This is equal to the regular VAT rates of
type of goods. duced in compliance with European Union regulations
7 % or 19 %
In case of doubt, please enquire – prior to placing any may be imported. The import of non-compliant goods is
VSt Excise duties: These are charged on high-duty goods
order – about any prohibitions or restrictions that may be prohibited.
such as alcohol, tobacco products and coffee
in effect. Otherwise, you may be unable to retrieve certain
■ Weapons and ammunition:
1. Consignments with a total value goods, even if you already paid for them. To make matters
ZOLL EUSt VSt The import of weapons and ammunition requires a
of up to € 22: worse, certain circumstances may lead to fines or even
criminal prosecution. For instance, particular provisions permit from the German administrative authority with
2. Consignments with a total value
ZOLL EUSt VSt apply in the following cases: jurisdiction under firearms law. Such permits must be
above € 22 and up to € 150:
issued in advance of the actual import. Please also be
3. Consignments with a total value ■ Medicinal products:
ZOLL EUSt VSt aware that some products available over the counter in
of over € 150: Private individuals are permitted to import medicines only other countries (such as knuckledusters and butterfly
The following products are not exempt from customs duties, import VAT in very specific cases. Please also be aware that some goods knives) are banned in Germany.
or any applicable excise duties: alcohol (including alcoholic beverages),
tobacco, perfume and eau de toilette.
available over the counter in other countries – such as vari-
ous dietary supplements, natural remedies and vitamins –
are classified as medicinal products in Germany.
Import duties – gift parcels ■ Food and feed, plants and plant products:
If the consignment is a private gift *, higher value limits apply. Stringent rules apply to the importation of products of ani-
(*A private gift parcel is a consignment of a non-commercial nature that mal origin, such as meat, sausages, fish or dairy products,
is occasionally sent by an individual in a third country to an individual in and for plants and plant products from third countries,
Germany and that is intended exclusively for private use or consumption in
the recipient’s household.) in particular. If the rules are violated, these goods will be
destroyed.
Please note:
No payment may be made to the sender of a gift parcel. ■ Counterfeiting and piracy:
1. Consignments with a total value Counterfeit or pirated goods may not be imported if the
ZOLL EUSt sender intends to sell them for commercial gain (in the
of up to € 45:
High-duty goods are duty-free only up to a certain quantity, course trade). In such cases, even individual articles are
for example: 50 cigarettes, one litre of alcohol, subject to seizure. In addition, the original manufacturer
50 grams of perfume, 500 grams of coffee. may claim damages.

2. Consignments with a total value ■ Cash:

ZOLL EUSt VSt ■ Cigarettes:
above € 45 and up to € 700: To thwart the illegal movement of cash as a preventive
Caution is advised when buying cigarettes from other
A flat-rate duty of 17.5 % (or only 15 % for certain countries) is measure against money laundering, terrorist funding and
Member States of the European Union:
charged on goods in this value range. Special duty rates apply other illegal activities, customs is monitoring postal items
containing cash. The term cash comprises, inter alia, hard The online purchase of cigarettes from other EU coun-
to high-duty goods such as alcohol, tobacco and coffee.
in certain cases cash, precious metals, precious stones, and certain securi- tries is prohibited unless such cigarettes bear a German
3. Consignments with a total value tax stamp, which is normally not the case. Improperly
ZOLL EUSt VSt ties (such as cheques, drafts, passbooks). If there are indica-
of over € 700: imported cigarettes will be confiscated by German cus-
tions for an illegal act, customs may stop the consignment
customs duties, import VAT, and excise duties where to clarify the concern. toms, and in addition you will be required to pay tobacco
applicable duty on them.