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If you are travelling within the Union, you normally have the right to carry
personal belongings with you without any restriction.
For public interest purposes, however, Member States can establish bans or
conditions on the use of specific products, such as drugs, products which are
derived from protected animal species, or certain pornographic material.
Firearms
With regard to firearms, if they are used for hunting, they must be declared
at border customs on entering Spain. Once the Guardia Civil has checked the
documentation they will issue a hunting licence valid for two months which can
be extended by another two months, but only once. When European citizens return
home after their hunting trip they must declare their return at the border
customs and give back the licence they were issued with.
Weapons used in competitions are covered by a European card, obtainable in
all EU countries, which is valid for travelling to compete in these countries
for five years. In Spain, it can be obtained from the Guardia Civil. If the
weapons are for private use, entry is normally prohibited.
Medicines
On the other hand, even though you have the right to carry any medication
that has been prescribed by a doctor or which you have bought legally in your
own country of residence or in the country where you are travelling, the
quantity of medication you are travelling with should be within the limits
corresponding to your own personal needs.
Health care access
If you are an EU national and you suddenly take ill or have an accident
during a visit to any other EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or
Switzerland, you can get free or reduced-cost emergency treatment. The E 111
form or European health insurance card, which replaces paper forms, can be
useful as evidence that you are entitled to these benefits. Pick up the European
health insurance card or one of these forms from your local social security or
sickness insurance office before you travel. A passport, however, is often
enough in some countries to receive medical treatment.
Only publicly funded emergency treatment is included in this scheme and each
country has its own rules for public medical provision. In some countries,
treatment is free, in some you have to pay part of the cost, and in others you
have to pay the full cost and then claim a refund. So keep all your bills,
prescriptions and receipts.
Immunisation
There are currently no immunisation requirements for travel to any of the
fifteen Member States of the European Union, although there are some
requirements or recommendations for some of the EU's overseas territories. Check
with your doctor before you go.
There are no restrictions on what you may buy and carry with you when
travelling within the European Union, provided your purchases are for personal
use and not for resale.
Tobacco and Alcohol
For guidance, goods are considered to be for your own use if you have no more
than: 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarettes, 200 cigars, 1 kg of tobacco, 10 litres of
spirits, 20 litres of fortified wine (such as port or sherry), 90 litres of wine
(of which a maximum of 60 litres of sparkling wine), 110 litres of beer.
Meat and dairy products
There are no restrictions on carrying any of these products if you are
travelling within the EU because of strict common veterinary standards across
its territory. Temporary restrictions would only be introduced if there were an
outbreak of an infectious animal disease, such as foot and mouth disease, which
would be widely publicised in the media.
If you are arriving in the European Union from other non-EU countries,
however, you are not allowed to bring with you any meat, meat products, milk or
milk products without official veterinary documentation. The aim of these new,
stricter rules is to prevent the spread of serious animal diseases. You can
bring in powdered infant milk, infant food and special foods required for
medical reasons, provided the product does not require refrigeration before
consumption, it is a packaged proprietary brand and the packaging is unbroken.
Consumer protection
Some basic laws for consumer protection apply throughout the EU, for example
rules on pricing, product safety and misleading advertising. If you cannot
resolve a problem directly with a seller in another EU country, you can get
practical information and help from a European consumer centre. You can also get
advice on settling the dispute out of court through the European extra judicial
network.
Text last edited on: 06/200
Source: European Union
© European Communities
Reproduction is authorised.
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