European Import Law - DVD Region 1 restriction?

DC

The forum search wasn't much good on this, so here goes...

I got a package from amazon USA containing a big DVD box set (region 1) valued at $202 (191 $ value + postage). The title of the box set was "Homicide: Life on the Street - The complete series".

When I got the package it was in a postal sack with a couple of labels attached. One was a goods value and contents label. It had the value ($202.47) plus a description (looked like DVD 1). I assume it was labelling the package as a DVD region 1.

The second label had a yellow sticker with "Goods do not meet the requirement of article 9 and 10 of the contract for the foundation of the european community".

The package was addressed to my name at the company I work for, so it had an obvious company address on it.

Question is... what was that all about? I still got the package. I have not received a customs bill (I think it falls below the threshhold for customs?).

Did customs think that I was going to resell the DVDs because I received the goods at a company address? Is it just plain illegal to import DVD region 1 from the USA even for personal use?

Answers would be welcome, because I want to keep buying the usually much better value region 1 DVDs.

Thanks.

maidhc

DC wrote:

"Goods do not meet the requirement of article 9 and 10 of the contract for the foundation of the european community".

I have never heard of the "contract for the foundation of the european community".. the closest I know of is the "treaty establishing the European community". Of this, article 9 refers to the european investment bank, and 10 places a general requirement on member states to obey the treaty!

Overheal

I've been importing Region 1's for a couple years now from my home: it may have been the company case (still very odd though)

vine

Found this old thread .. got an DVD from Amazon US to my German private address and it also has this yellow sticker "Goods Do Not Meet The Requirement Of Article 9 and 10 Of The Contract For The Foundation Of The European Community". So it is not a company delivery problem.

The DVD is Region I so maybe it is because of this, but I also read* that books do have this sticker on the package too.

*h**p://nothingintoinsight.blogspot.com/2009/10/article-9-and-10.html

blueythebear

DC wrote: »

The forum search wasn't much good on this, so here goes...

I got a package from amazon USA containing a big DVD box set (region 1) valued at $202 (191 $ value + postage). The title of the box set was "Homicide: Life on the Street - The complete series".

When I got the package it was in a postal sack with a couple of labels attached. One was a goods value and contents label. It had the value ($202.47) plus a description (looked like DVD 1). I assume it was labelling the package as a DVD region 1.

The second label had a yellow sticker with "Goods do not meet the requirement of article 9 and 10 of the contract for the foundation of the european community".

The package was addressed to my name at the company I work for, so it had an obvious company address on it.

Question is... what was that all about? I still got the package. I have not received a customs bill (I think it falls below the threshhold for customs?).

Did customs think that I was going to resell the DVDs because I received the goods at a company address? Is it just plain illegal to import DVD region 1 from the USA even for personal use?

Answers would be welcome, because I want to keep buying the usually much better value region 1 DVDs.

Thanks.

The Contract for the foundation of the European Community refers to the 1957 Treaty of Rome giving birth to the European Economic COmmunity. Articles 9 and 10 of that treaty refer to the free movement of goods.

I am assuming that the sticker is purely a labelling issue confirming to customs that the goods are not coming from within the EU. If they were, no taxes, etc would be due. The sticker probably flags the goods for the revenue that there may be duties and VAT due on the item.

As they are from the USA, there are customs duty and VAT payable on the DVD. However, if the value of the item is less than €150 then no duties or tax are payable and it would appear that your DVD came just under the €150 when you change 202 dollars to euros (around €145 ).

FreudianSlippers

blueythebear wrote: »

The Contract for the foundation of the European Community refers to the 1957 Treaty of Rome giving birth to the European Economic COmmunity. Articles 9 and 10 of that treaty refer to the free movement of goods.

I am assuming that the sticker is purely a labelling issue confirming to customs that the goods are not coming from within the EU. If they were, no taxes, etc would be due. The sticker probably flags the goods for the revenue that there may be duties and VAT due on the item.

As they are from the USA, there are customs duty and VAT payable on the DVD. However, if the value of the item is less than €150 then no duties or tax are payable and it would appear that your DVD came just under the €150 when you change 202 dollars to euros (around €145 ).

You're correct regarding the €150 for Customs, but I believe it is over €22 for VAT.

blueythebear

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

You're correct regarding the €150 for Customs, but I believe it is over €22 for VAT.

Spot on. Was just about to edit my post before you posted that. It is liable for VAT if the goods value is over €22.