Belgian customs warns travellers returning from UK of post-Brexit shopping tariffs
As spring break sees an influx of people crossing the Channel, Belgium's customs service is reminding shoppers that shopping in London has different rules since Brexit. With the UK no longer part of the EU, customs checks apply to all travellers, including those returning by train.
The stricter post-Brexit regulations require anyone bringing goods worth more than 300 euros into Belgium to declare them. For those arriving by boat or plane, the threshold is 430 euros.
“Shoppers will, of course, quickly reach that amount and must therefore declare their purchases upon their arrival in Brussels,” customs administrator general Kristian Vanderwaeren said during a press event at the Eurostar terminal at Brussels Midi station on Thursday.
Declaring goods
As at Zaventem Airport, travellers at Midi must choose between the "nothing to declare" and "goods to declare" lanes when they arrive. However, compliance remains low. On the Eurostar train that arrived at 10.00, no passengers opted for the declaration lane.
“That is almost always the case,” Vanderwaeren said. “We are organising this action to remind people that the regulations for shopping in London are not the same as for Paris. Four years after London formally left the EU, a reminder is still necessary.”
Travellers who declare goods must pay applicable duties and taxes, which are calculated based on the total value, including VAT already paid in the UK. Those who fail to declare goods risk fines on top of the standard levies.
Despite these warnings, the risk of being caught remains relatively low. Figures from the FPS Finance show that of the nearly 9,000 people checked at Midi last year, only 135 violations were recorded. These included undeclared goods, as well as infractions related to undeclared cash and drug possession.
A detection dog at the terminal assists in sniffing out large sums of money. 10,000 euros or more must be declared, as well as various currencies and drugs.
Thursday’s checks did not lead to any major confiscations. One woman had to surrender a bouquet of flowers, while others had to leave behind food bought in the UK. Both flowers and food were destroyed.
All 400 Eurostar passengers cleared customs in just over 15 minutes, but with current infrastructure limiting full-scale inspections, customs officials are considering installing scanners at the station.
In addition to its crackdown on undeclared goods, customs officials used the event to highlight an upcoming travel requirement. As of 2 April, travellers to the UK will need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), which has been available to apply for since Wednesday.
Drugs and customs inspections at Brussels Midi, 6 March 2025 © BELGA PHOTO BRUNO FAHY
Related news
