Duty-free tobacco limits to drop soon

Customs Comptroller Carolyn Tremain says this week travellers will begin to see advertising in airports and in-flight magazines alerting them to the November reduction in duty-free tobacco limits.

“From 1 November the duty-free limit for tobacco brought into New Zealand drops from 200 to 50 cigarettes or 50 grams of tobacco products.

“Customs is running an awareness campaign until the end of the peak summer holiday period to inform travellers of the reduction in the tobacco allowance.

“From 1 November anyone exceeding the 50 cigarettes or 50 grams limit will have to pay duty and GST on the excess tobacco they are carrying or abandon the excess by placing it in a tobacco amnesty bin,” says Ms Tremain.

“The gift concession will also disappear, meaning anyone sent tobacco from overseas will have to pay duty and GST on the entire amount when it arrives.

The drop in the duty-free limit aligns New Zealand with Australia’s duty-free tobacco allowance, and is another step towards reducing the harm caused by smoking.

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