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Import regulations by Russia customs
Imports:
Prohibited imports
Photographs and printed matter directed against the Russian Federation, weapons and ammunition, narcotics, fruit, vegetables and live animals unless with a special permit.
Natural persons may import in their accompanied or unaccompanied luggage the goods (with the exception of transport means), with total price of not more than 65 thousand rubles and with total weight not more than 35 kg.
here will be applied a general rate of customs duties and taxes in the amount of 30% of the customs value of the above goods (but not less than 4 euro per 1 kg) if the norms specified above are exceeded; when total price of goods is not more than 200 hundred thousand rubles and total weight of goods is not more than 200 kg. Should total price of the goods imported exceed 650 thousand rubles and/or their total weight exceed 200 kg, then there will be applied the rates of customs duties and taxes as established by the general procedure and the conditions of tariff regulation and taxation, envisaged for the participants of foreign trade.
These measures shall be applied also in case when alcohol drinks are imported with 5 times excess of the existing limitations (to the goods in excess), or when a natural person is crossing the customs border of the Russian Federation oftener than once a month.
Natural persons, acknowledged officially as refugees or forced migrants and also those coming to Russia for permanent residence, may bring in without payment of customs duties and taxes the goods (except for transport means), which have been used or have been bought prior to their entry into the territory of the Russian Federation.
Foreign persons may bring in temporarily, without paying customs duties and taxes, the goods (except for transport means) they require for their personal use in the territory of the Russian Federation during the period of their temporary stay. If these goods are not brought out from the territory after the established period, then these goods shall be charged with customs duties and taxes in accordance with the Regulation № 718 of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 29.11.03.
A natural person who has reached 17 years old, may bring in/bring out at one time without paying customs duties and taxes only two liters of alcohol beverages (from 21 years), not more than 250 g of sturgeon roe in factory cans and tobacco items (cigars� up to 50 pieces, cigarillos � up to 100 pieces, cigarettes � up to 200 pieces, tobacco � 0.25 kg. In case of importation of tobacco items of one type only it is allowed to bring in 100 cigars, 200 cigarillos, 400 cigarettes and 0.5 kg of tobacco. Importation/exportation of these goods is limited by the legislation of the Russian Federation.
The goods subject to mandatory declaring
The goods subject to mandatory declaring are as follows:
- Russian and foreign currency (see above);
- securities (payment documents, traveller\'s cheques);
- precious metals in any form and condition except for those which are conveyed across the border with the purpose of temporary exportation/importation of private jewelry or other household items;
- precious stones (diamonds, true rubies, emeralds, sapphires, alexandrites, natural pearls) with the exception of those which are conveyed across the border with the purpose of temporary exportation/importation of private jewelry or other household items;
- weapons, ammunition, explosives;
- narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, as well as their analogues;
- valuables of art and cultural valuables (pictures, sculptures, icons, old coins, military decorations and medals, stamps and etc.);
- poisonous and intoxicant substances, and also potent drugs (soporific and anesthetic substances and etc.);
- radioactive substances;
- flora and fauna objects, under the threat of extinction, their parts and parts made of them;
- technical means, made up of one or several radio transmitting/receiving apparatus and their combinations and auxiliary equipment (radio navigation and radio determination system stations, cable TV systems and other equipment, operated with frequencies higher than 9 kHz);
- printed matter, cinematographic, photo and video materials, comprising confidential and/or state secrets, intended for propaganda of fascism, excitation of race, national and religious animosity, and the publications of pornographic character;
- the goods, which in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation are subject to quantitative (weight) or price limitations when conveyed across the customs border without payment of customs duties and taxes as per simplified, favorable procedure not designated for production or other commercial activities; in case when such limitations are exceeded;
- the goods, intended for production or commercial activity. Non submission by a passenger of a customs declaration in relation to such goods shall be regarded by a customs officer as a declaration of the fact that this passenger has no such goods to declare.
Conveyance by natural persons of the goods subject to control of other state authorities (Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Agriculture and etc) is allowed if relevant licenses, certificates issued by the above authorities are presented.
The law has set the requirement for written declaration of foreign currency in cash, the currency of the Russian Federation, traveler�s cheques and internal and foreign certified securities imported by physical persons, providing their total equivalent value is not in excess of $10 000. At the same time, there are no any quantitative restrictions on importation of these valuables by physical persons. In fact, the requirement for this declaration is stipulated by the importance of maintaining statistical records and by control over the conveyance of large sums of cash assets and securities.
Export regulations by Russia customs
Exports:
Prohibited exports
Arms, works of art and antiques (unless permission has been granted by the Ministry of Culture), precious metals and furs.
Note
Up to 280g of caviar per person may be exported, provided a receipt is shown proving that it was bought at a store licensed to sell it to foreigners.
Poultry and poultry products (including bulk-packed ground poultry)
Pork and pork products
Horsemeat
Baby food containing beef imported from Australia and/or New Zealand is eligible for export to Russia.
Ineligible
Beef and beef products and bison meat and bison meat products are currently ineligible. However, deboned beef, bone-in beef, and beef byproducts derived from cattle under 30 months of age will be eligible from production establishments and cold storages that are approved after joint U.S.-Russia on-site inspection. The beef and beef byproducts must be derived from cattle raised in the United States and must be processed in a manner to prevent contamination with brain, spinal cord, eyes, skull, and vertebral column regardless of the age of the animal. Eligible beef and beef byproducts must be produced under an approved AMS Export Verification (EV) program for beef to Russia. Information about the EV program for Russia can be obtained from AMS\' Web site. Production establishments interested in export of beef to Russia should contact AMS. AMS will maintain a list of establishments that comply with the additional requirements identified above on the EV program website. Cold storage establishments interested in export of beef to Russia should notify the U.S. Meat Export Federation (MEF) of their interest. USDA, in conjunction with MEF, will use the production plant and cold storage lists to develop a schedule of on-site plant inspections by Russian officials. Establishments seeking approval to export to Russia should contact AMS or MEF by December 8, 2006.
Red meat - Importation of ground red meat, packaged in bulk form or in the form of meat patties, is prohibited by the Russian authorities.
Lamb, sheep, and goat products. However, fully cooked, canned baby food containing lamb is eligible for export to Russia.
Consumer size packages of ground poultry, mechanically deboned poultry, and giblets are not eligible for export to Russia.
Meat and Poultry imported into the United States from third countries
Beef products originating from animals raised in states with counties which have had confirmed bovine cases of vesicular stomatitis within the last 12 months.
Horsemeat originating from establishments located in the State of Texas.
Fresh/frozen poultry meat derived from birds raised or processed in the State of West Virginia and slaughtered on or after April 1, 2007. Meat derived from birds slaughtered prior to April 1, 2007 continues to be eligible.
Fresh/frozen poultry meat derived from birds raised or processed in the State of Minnesota and slaughtered on or after May 2, 2007, but prior to August 2, 2007, is ineligible. Meat derived from birds slaughtered prior to May 2, 2007 or slaughtered on or after August 2, 2007 is eligible.*
Fresh/frozen poultry meat derived from birds raised or processed in the State of Virginia and slaughtered on or after July 7, 2007. Meat derived from birds slaughtered prior to July 7, 2007 continues to be eligible.
Other Russia customs information
Poliomyelitis occurs. Immunisation is advisable.
Food drink: All water should be regarded as being a potential health risk. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Contaminated tap water contains a high prevalence of gastrointestinal infections. The water supply in St Petersburg especially has been linked to giardiasis. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Other risks: Dysentery is common throughout the country. Hepatitis A occurs. Widespread outbreaks of diphtheria have been reported. Consult a doctor regarding inoculation before travelling to the Russian Federation. Tick-borne typhus has been reported from east and central Siberia. Tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease occur in forested areas throughout the Russian Federation. Vaccination is advisable. Outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis have been reported from the southeast. Leishmaniasis can occur in the south. Outbreaks of meningitis have been reported from Volgograd.
Rabies is present and increasing. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information consult the Health appendix.
Note: Visitors staying for more than three months must produce a certificate proving they are HIV-negative. The certification requirements are exacting and detailed; a medical examination may also be required. Foreign tests may be acceptable under certain conditions. Check details with the embassy.
Note:
On entering the country, tourists must complete a customs declaration form which must be retained until departure. This allows the import of articles intended for personal use, including currency and valuables which must be registered on the declaration form. Cameras, jewellery, computers and musical instruments should all be declared. Customs inspection can be long and detailed. It is advisable when shopping to ask for a certificate from the shop which states that goods have been paid for in hard currency. Presentation of such certificates should speed up customs formalities.
Health care: The highly developed health service provides free medical treatment for all citizens. If a traveller becomes ill during a booked tour, emergency treatment is free, with small sums to be paid for medicines and hospital treatment. If a longer stay than originally planned becomes necessary because of the illness, the visitor has to pay for all further treatment. This can be very expensive; air evacuation can cost up to 80,000. All visitors are strongly advised to have full medical cover that includes medical evacuation. It is advisable to take a supply of medicines that are likely to be required (check first that they may be imported legally). A reciprocal health care agreement is in operation between the UK and the Russian Federation, allowing citizens to receive free treatment. Private medical care can be expensive.
http://www.customs.ru/en/ftravelers/cofgpp/
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