Anyone knows about German customs or customs in general? Question

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Giantfan

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Sep 30, 2009
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I am living in Germany right now. I got a letter in the mail saying that my order from China arrived. They sent me a form to fill out and return, wanting to know what was in the package, how much everything in the package costs, along with a receipt etc.

I contacted the supplier. They said they didn't mark it as a gift and included no paperwork in the package. So, I could say it was a gift, but I don't know if that will come back to bite me.

Or I could pay the taxes on it, maybe The problem is, I don't know exactly what the laws are. This was an expensive order, and so I don't want it to get seized or anything.

Any experience or advice?
 

Tom09

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Feb 22, 2009
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Hi Giantfan, I’m sorry to read that you have been running into problems at German customs.

There are essentially three issues with your order being hold at German customs:

First is about the monetary value. If the value is more than about ~ USD 30, you are due to pay toll and taxes. Annoying, but not a real problem.

Second, there may be a severe problem depending on the content of your package. While sale of e-cigs is presently tolerated in Germany, customs in some German states will stop ecigs at the respective customs / EU outer border. Main gateway for China imports by air mail is Frankfurt Rhein-Main Airport in Hessen. You’re out of luck if your order is hold there. Frankfurt (and other) customs will partially or completely seize your package if it contains e-cigs with nicotine-bearing cartridges or liquids (based on the argument that those constitute medicinal products or drugs).

Moreover, third, much depending on the size of your order, it might happen that you will find yourself threatened by prosecution for importing illegal drugs for sale. Some authorities’ tolerance is pretty low and will not accept 'personal use' for an order of substantial volume.

What to to?
In my opinion, given your quest is about some substantial order, it will be best for you to refuse delivery of that package (without disclosing anything about the content). There should be an option to refuse on the form letter. Once refused, this package will return to China (and most suppliers are open to some deal like repackaging or exchanging problematic content). My advise, again, do not accept the package to avoid seizure (and to avoid running into the threat of legal prosecution).

If you speak some German, you might also check out the main German e-cig forum. It has a lot of information about the customs situation over there.

Good Luck.
 
I'm not sure of German Customs, but I did have a shipment stopped by US Customs. Just like you they sent me a letter. My letter stated they found Medical Delivery Devices, Atomizers, and Nicotine in our boxes. It stated they would send it back to sender as long as the address was legitimate. They sent it back to sender and the sender sent it right back to me, the second time around I got my shipment ;). It took awhile, but I got it!! Make sure your sender is willing to do this for you. They have to talk to they courier company they used, and see if it would be something they've done before.
 

Giantfan

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Sep 30, 2009
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Than you both for your responses. Tom 09 especially. Would you mind if I talked to you in private?

Anyway, the order is at GDSK in Frankfurt am Main. So I should refuse?

I do not speak German fully yet, but I want to know the German regulations. I am very curious how they can seize packages without there being any sort of laws against e cigs and their components.
 

Tom09

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Feb 22, 2009
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PM exchanged with OP.

Some practical note for e-cig orders to be sent to from China to Germany:
Several Chinese suppliers offer various options for delivery. Such can be the choice between (a) EMS or (b) registered airmail by China Post. EMS is more expensive and supposed to be faster. But, normal, registered airmail takes only ~ 10 days, too. EMS, however, is partnered with the private company GDSK in Germany (those have sent the form letter to OP). GDSK = pain in the .... It’s of practical importance that GDSK makes money by charging you for ‘serving’ on your behalf at customs visitation. In other words, GDSK has some interest that packages get actually visited by customs. So, with EMS you have to pay substantially more - only to raise chances that your goods get stopped. Never chose EMS to get some order delivered from China to Germany.

On the legal situation:
In the Federal Republic of Germany, e-cigs still stay in a legal grey zone, for the most part. For the time being, there is no specific regulation on the federal level. Regulation is presently left to authorities of the individual German states. Some authorities on the state or lower levels deem e-cigs a medicinal product (thus sales prohibition due to lack of approval) and do stop imports for commercial as well as for personal use at the respective custom border (= EU outer border), such as at Frankfurt Airport.

Since customs at Frankfurt has been reported to be sort of strict, including actual seizures and threats of criminal persecution (which have never been followed up, though), I suggest to refuse delivery of the package in question to get it back to the sender without inspection.
 
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