Belarus has significantly reduced the limits of duty-free importation of goods and the permissible weight of duty-free parcels from abroad.
New rules have been introduced by Decree Nr 40 signed by president Alyaksandr Lukashenka on February, 11.
The previous limits (parcels to the value of € 200 and 31 kg per month) have been now reduced to € 22 and 10 kg correspondingly.
The change might have been caused by a recent increase in the volumes of imported goods delivered to Belarusians by international post services. Over the past two years the number of consignments purchased in online stores and brought in the country has increased six-fold. In other words, the Belarusian authorities have declared war to illegal sellers.
Mikhail Myasnikovich, the chairman of the Council of Republic, was one of the initiators of the introduction of new limits. According to the top official, it is the parcels from China that crashed the Belarusian trade and created problems for its light industry.
If the cost and/or weight of imported goods exceed € 22 euro and 10 kg, the excess of the value will be taxed at a flat rate of 30% of its cost, but not less than € 4 per 1 kg.
Importing goods above the value of € 300 more than once a quarter will be subject to customs fees.
The decree is to come into force in two months after its official publication.
