The first cardinal rule needed to guide you in most cases, is that if you are buying something on the airport duty-free shop, you can take it with you on the plane. How ever, in a check we did in July 2009, there are 4 exceptions: the United States, Canada, Australia & New Zealand. Those 4 countries will allow you to enter with just 100 cc of liquids, even if the bottle is a duty-free shop’s.

flying with liquid – ask the sellers

In any case, if there is no such option – the duty-free seller, at the store, should tell you. We got worned on a flight from Bangkok to Sydney.

When we write here duty-free shop, we mean only for duty-free shop at the airport or on the plane – duty-free shop of the airline. A tax-free shop in the city, are a different story. You wont be able to take Liqueur you bought before the check in zone, as a hand Luggage.

The reason is of course – safety. If you are buying a bottle of whiskey or a fine quality face cream at the airport duty-free shop, the product will be packed and will be waiting for you at the boarding gate, minutes before the plane take off. Then, the airline knows that the product was purchased in duty-free shop and is safe, and not containing for example, any chemical materials that will allow you to make a bomb over the ocean.

carry on liquids – in suitcase

It is important to know – is it getting tricky if this is not a direct flight. For example, if you fly to Los Angeles via Paris, you can pick up a bottle as you embark from your home airport, butonce you get out at the airport Charles de Gaulle, the bottle is no longer sterile, and you can’t take it to the next flight from Paris to Los Angeles .
But, before you decide to purchase the goods solely at the duty-free shop at the airport, or on the plane, it’s important to know that there is also a solution to purchase products out side the airport.ut there are also risks, if you are not experts in packaging. The solution is sending a product – a bottle of drink, a prestigious perfume or any other liquid, with the suitcases you deliver at the check in point. Thus, you will meet your bottle only when you reach your final destination.

again – It is recommended only for those who have confidence in theirs packing ability.

When travelling from the EU countries to the UK, you do not have to pay any tax or duty on goods you have bought in another EU country, as long as tax was included in the price when you purchased the items, the items are for your own personal  use, and have been transported to the UK by you.

Still, there are limitation on alcohol and tobacco products:

3200 cigarettes
400 cigarillos
200 cigars
3 kg of smoking tobacco
110 litres of beer
10 litres of spirits
90 litres of wine
20 litres of fortified wine e.g. port or sherry

From Estonia – 200 cigarettes or 250g of smoking tobacco
From Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia – 200 cigarettes

Here are the limitations, when coming to the UK from outside the EU:

200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g of tobacco
4 litres of still table wine
1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22% volume; or 2 litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine or other liqueurs
16 litres of beer
60cc/ml of perfume
£300 worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Declaration Form – Front
1. Print your last (family) name. Print your first (given) name. Print the first letter of your middle name.

2. Print your date of birth in the appropriate day/month/year boxes.

3. Print the number of family members traveling with you (do not include yourself).

4. Print your current street address in the United States. If you are staying at a hotel, include the hotel’s name and street address. Print the city and the state in the appropriate boxes.

5. Print the name of the country that issued your passport.

6. Print your passport number.

7. Print the name of the country where you currently live.

8. Print the name of the country(ies) that you visited on your trip prior to arriving to the United States.

9. If traveling by airline, print the airline’s name and flight number. If traveling by vessel (ship), print the vessel’s name.

10. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Are you traveling on a business (work-related) trip?

11. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Are you bringing with you:

a.	fruits, plants, food, or insects?
b.	meats, animals, or animal/wildlife products?
c.	disease agents, cell cultures, or snails?
d.	soil or have you visited a farm/ranch/pasture outside the United States?

12. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Have you or any family members traveling with you been in close proximity of (such as touching or handling) livestock outside the United States?

13. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Are you or any family members traveling with you bringing $10,000 or more in U.S. dollars or foreign equivalent in any form into the United States?

Read definition of monetary instruments on the reverse side of the form.
Examples: coins, cash, personal or cashier’s check, traveler’s checks, money orders, stocks, bonds.
If yes, your must complete the Customs Form 4790.

14. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Are you or any family members traveling with you bringing commercial merchandise into the United States?

Examples: all articles intended to be sold or left in the United States, samples used for soliciting orders, or goods that are not considered personal effects.

15. If you are a U.S. resident, print the total value of all goods (including commercial merchandise) you or any family members traveling with you have purchased or acquired abroad (including gifts for someone else, but not items mailed to the United States) and are bringing into the United States.
Note: U.S. residents are normally entitled to a duty-free exemption of $800 on items accompanying them.

If you are a visitor (non-U.S. Resident), print the total value of all goods (including commercial merchandise) you or any family members traveling with you are bringing into the United States and will remain in the United States.
Note: Visitors (non-U.S. Residents) are normally entitled to an exemption of $100.

Declare all articles on this form. For gifts, please indicate the retail value. Use the reverse side of this form if additional space is needed to list the items you will declare.

The U.S. Customs officer will determine duty. Duty will be assessed at the current rate on the first $1,000 above the exemption.

• Read the notice on the reverse side of the form.
• Sign the form and print the date.
• Keep the complete form with you and hand it to the CBP inspector when you approach the Customs and Border Protection area.

Controlled substances, obscene articles, and toxic substances are generally prohibited entry.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Declaration Form – Back

1.       Understand that CBP officer can inspect you and your belongings without warrant. This may include your luggage and personal searches, and is meant to enforce US laws as well as protect legitimate travelers

2.       Don’t bring food into the US without first checking to se if it is permitted. Also all and any live birds and live products, whether for personal or commercial use, maybe restricted and/or quarantine.

3.       Don’t bring any Cuban made products into US, no matter where you purchased them.

4.       Be aware that many foreign made medications are not FDA approved, and you cannot bring them into the US also, when traveling abroad bring only the amount of medication you’ll need during the trip

5.       Know the difference between prohibited merchandise (such as ivory, tortoise shell products, absinthe, and counterfeit items) and restricted merchandise.

6.       Know that things bought abroad for personal use or as gifts are eligible for duty examinations. If you are bringing them for resale they’re not.

7.       Be caution when buying something from a street vendor. Keep in mind that the merchandise may be counterfeit and/ or unsafe and you may have to surrender it to the US custom

Declare everything you bring from abroad, even if you bought it in a duty free shop.