The European Commission has revised the rules for the import of goods from Russia: what has changed?

The European Commission (EC) has revised previously issued recommendations for European countries on how to apply the ban on the import from Russia of certain goods that are on the sanctions list. The original version of the document established a complete ban on the import of personal goods into the EU, including clothing and hygiene products.

Changes in the regulations concern Annex XXI to Article 3i of Sanctions Regulation No. 833/2014. The EC explained that national customs authorities must take “proportionate and reasonable” measures when applying the ban. However, the document does not clearly indicate whether smartphones, laptops and cameras, which also appear in this application, will remain banned.

Interestingly, the import of passenger cars from Russia, considered goods that can be used to circumvent sanctions, also remains prohibited. The specific ways in which passenger vehicles could be used for this purpose remain unclear.

Let us remind you that on September 8, the EC published a document prohibiting Russians from entering the territory of the European Union in cars with Russian license plates. The document refers to Annex XXI to Article 3i of the sanctions regulations and includes mobile phones, laptops, suitcases, cosmetics, leather and fur products, semi-precious stones, toilet paper, shampoos and even cameras in the list of prohibited goods. However, there is a possibility that EU customs authorities may allow the import of these goods in certain cases.

Despite these changes, some lawyers believe that the EC’s clarifications have no legal force. Kommersant reports this.