Russians banned from importing their shampoos, smartphones and toilet paper into the EU

Russians have been banned from entering the EU with personal smartphones, laptops, cosmetics, toilet paper and Russian-registered cars. The import of these items into the EU countries may be regarded as prohibited imports, the European Commission said. The new rules for Russian citizens were announced by the EC by publishing them on its website.

It specified that the term for which a car with Russian numbers is imported, as well as the customs procedure does not matter. Personal belongings - smartphones, suitcases, jewellery and laptops - are also under the import ban. In addition, the list includes leather and fur products, semi-precious and precious stones, toilet paper, shampoos, toothpastes, trailers and semi-trailers for transporting goods, yachts and cameras.

BGP Litigation partner Sergei Glandin said in a conversation with Russian journalists that the most logical solution for Russian citizens is to prevent them from bringing these goods with them to Europe.

It should be noted that in July the Russian Embassy in Germany announced a number of cases when Russians had their cars seized when they tried to enter the EU. At the same time, the Central Help Desk of the General Directorate of Customs of the Federal Republic of Germany reported that Russians could have their cars with Russian licence plates confiscated due to the sanctions. People were warned about the possibility of criminal prosecution for violating German law.