EU travellers get higher duty-free allowances

But smokers could face a clampdown as part of EU efforts to curb smoking, as countries will have the option of reducing the amount of cigarettes travellers can bring in to 40 from 200, though many have opted for the upper limit.

A traveller returning by air or sea will be allowed to bring in duty-free goods worth up to 430 euros (371 pounds) in their personal luggage, up from 175 euros previously.

The quantitative limit on wine is raised to four litres from two, while the cap on spirits remains at one litre. Beer is limited to 16 litres, whereas before there had been no effective restriction.

Limits on the quantity of perfume, eau de toilette, coffee and tea will be abolished in favour of the monetary allowance.

The new rules mean that in the best case a traveller returning by air can import duty-free up to 200 cigarettes, a litre of spirits, four litres of wine, 16 litres of beer and 430 euros of other goods such as toys, perfume and electronics.

Travellers returning to the EU by land have a monetary limit of 300 euros, less than for air travellers following complaints from EU states that border non-EU countries where prices are significantly lower than in the bloc.

Taxes and customs duties will be applied to the value of goods exceeding those limits.

(Reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by Dale Hudson and Sophie Hares)