Maximum Coverage = Maximum Declared Value for Carriage for the Priority™ Worldwide service.
Import Restrictions
Senders should determine import restrictions from the country's authorities before posting:
animal products
anti-parasite products
books and periodical publications
bees
coffee, tea, mate and spices
cereals
clocks and watches
fruit and vegetables
medicines
meat and meat products
matches
ozone depleting substances
plants and parts of plants
precious metal products
radioactive materials
sealskin products
sugar and sugar confectionery
tobacco and tobacco substitutes
traps, snares (of iron or steel wire)
video recordings
weapons
wood (coniferous)
wool.
Meat, meat products, milk and milk products must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate from the country of origin. The exception for milk products is personal imports for own use of up to 10 kgs of powdered infant milk, infant food and special foods required for medical reasons, provided the products do not require refrigeration before consumption and packaged as proprietary of branded products.
Animal and animal products (including live fish, gametes and fish products) imported must be presented with a veterinary inspection at the Border Inspection Post (BIP) in Dublin seaport or airport, or the Shannon Airport.
Plant and plant product imports must be notified to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine prior to importation, and must be inspected by an officer at the point of entry.
Aquaculture products and gametes may only be imported through the Border Inspection Post at the Shannon airport.
A valid community license is required for the import of agricultural products outside of the European Union.
For the import of medicinal products, a product authorization issued by the Health Products Regulatory Authority or a Marketing Authorization is requried. Any imports of medicinal products must be labelled and accompanied by a product information leaflet available in the Irish and English language.
Similarly personal consignments of other products of animal origin such as honey, processed frogs legs or snails may be imported from most non-EU countries without veterinary inspection requirements provided the overall quantity does not exceed 2 kg and the products are in fit condition The weight limit for fish is 20 kg.
Quantitative Restrictions/Limitations
Certain goods are subject to quantitative restrictions or limitations, and they may require the production of an import license or authorization issued by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment or the Minister for Agriculture and Food. A restriction is an explicit limit on the quantity or value of a product permitted to enter or leave a country. A limitation is where a limit is imposed on the volume of goods that may be imported from a third country.
Surveillance on Imports
Certain products are subject to surveillance and may be imported only on production of an import document (authorization) issued by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment or the Minister for Agriculture and Food. A surveillance is a statistical tool, which enables the EU to monitor the level of imports from third countries.
Goods Subject To Prohibition, Restriction, & Surveillance
The following goods are subject to prohibition, restriction or surveillance.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)
Certain animals and plants and parts or products thereof may not be imported or exported except under permit or Certificate issued by the National Parks and Wildlife Services, Department of Environment, Heritage and local government.
SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS-quotas, licenses and or permits.
1. Semen and embryos of animals
2. Vaccines and sera - for animal use
3. Veterinary medicinal products and any substances having a growth promoting effect on animals
4. Aquaculture Products
5. Citizen band radios
Trade Between Ireland And Non Eu Member States
Subject to Restrictions-quotas, licenses and or permits
1. Wine, spirits and tobacco
2. Textiles, textile garments
3. Iron and steel products
4. Footwear
5. Tableware or kitchenware of ceramic
6. Porcelain or china
7. Bags & wrappers
8. Cetacean (i.e. whale) products
9. Hay, straw and peat moss litter
10. Wood & bark
11. Seed potatoes
12. Semen and embryos of animals
13. Therapeutic substances - for animal use
14. Traps, snares, nets, etc.
15. Vaccines and sera - for animal use
16. Aquaculture products
17. Animal remedies
18. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons
19. Certain pre-packed foodstuffs and other goods
20. Assay marks
21. Citizen band radios
22. Molasses, treacle, golden syrup, malt, yeast, hops, treacle meal and molassine meal
Additional EU prohibits:
Trade With Sierra Leone
The importation, directly or indirectly of rough diamonds originating in or coming from Sierra Leone that are not covered by the system of Certificate of Origin approved by the Competent Authorities of the United Nations is prohibited.
The following commodities are prohibited via PriorityTM Worldwide service into the Ireland (However, you may be able to use another Canada Post service for shipping these items.):
animal products
tobacco and all Tobacco Products
liquor arduous (some licensed consignees may receive beer samples)
Gifts
Articles consigned as "Unsolicited gifts" are acceptable and will be allowed entry free of any duty or VAT providing the shipment is valued at less than 45 EURO originated from and consigned to an individual, and are individually wrapped. Multiple gifts can be consigned in one shipment so long as the individual parcels enclosed are individually tagged with the recipients name, are individually wrapped and the value does not exceed the per person limit of 45 EURO. Shipments consigned to companies as gifts for an individual may be denied entry as gifts and will be subject to full duty and VAT. Generally, most articles can be consigned as gifts, except those articles noted prohibited or restricted for import (see General Import Prohibitions and Restrictions).
Restrictions on Exemption
There is no relief from VAT or Excise duty for tobacco products, alcoholic beverages or perfumes/toilet waters. However, subject to the overall value limit of 45 Euro per consignment mentioned above, relief from customs duty will be allowed on those goods up to the following limits even where goods in excess of those limits are contained in the consignment:
a. Tobacco products
i. 50 cigarettes or
ii. 25 cigarillos (cigars of a max weight of 3 grams each) or
iii. 10 cigars or
iv. 50 grams of smoking tobacco
b. Alcohol and alcoholic beverages
i. 1 liter of distilled beverages and spirits, of an alcoholic strength exceeding 22% vol. (e.g. Whiskey, brandy, gin, rum, vodka) or 1 liter of distilled beverages and spirits and aperitifs with a wine or alcohol base, tafia, sake or similar beverages of an alcoholic strength not exceeding 22% vol., sparkling or fortified wines (e.g. Champagne, port, sherry)
ii. 2 liters of still wine
c. Perfumes and toilet waters:
i. 50 grams of perfumes or
ii. 0.25 liters or 8 ounces of toilet waters
The relevant EU rule permits allowances referred to at (a) and (b) (i.e.) above to be apportioned on a fractional basis. I.e. A gift consignment consisting of 25 cigarettes plus 5 cigars or one half bottle of whiskey plus one half liter bottle of champagne may be admitted free of customs duty.
Prohibited Items
In addition to items considered non-mailable matter by, the following are prohibited:
authors' rights, infringements of
citizens' band radios with AM capability
coins, illegal weight standard
counterfeits of legal tender notes and stamps
dairy produce (milk, cream, butter)
government markings, false
indecent and obscene books articles, publications, videos and cards
lottery tickets
live animals and fish
narcotic and psychotropic substances
paper or materials treated with oils or varnishes
seal pup's skins
unmanufactured tobacco
stamps, die, plates, instruments or materials for making stamps.
Trade Between Ireland And EU Member States
ABSOLUTE PROHIBITS:
oral/smokeless tobacco
cereal seed of the second generation (C2 Seed)
tea unfit for human consumption.
Trade Between Ireland And Non Eu Member States
Absolute Prohibits:
cereal Seed of the second generation (C2 Seed)
copyrights
counterfeit or pirated goods
false trademarks
food imitations
government Guarantees
oral/smokeless tobacco products
Documentation Required
Information regarding Customs can be found in "Customs Requirements" of the Canada Postal Guide.
In addition, an import permit is required for many goods mailed to Ireland. Before posting any item, senders should confirm that the addressee has any necessary permit.
Commercial goods require an invoice. Senders should show on customs documentation:
the location of the invoice - enclosed or despatched separately
the name, weight, value and origin of the goods.
Gifts
For gifts, senders should mark customs documentation Gift package. Ireland grants duty-exemption for items up to 43 euros.
Document Requirements
Certificates of Origin - Certificates of Origin are required for the importation of any Textile products valued at over 45 Euros. Exceptions from this requirement include marked and mutilated samples; luggage made up of textile materials, canvas bags, and bona-fide gifts. A Certificate of Origin is recommended to be provided for every commodity subject to import licensing and /or quota restrictions from some origin countries.
Certificate of Origin Form A - A Certificate of Origin Form A may be required for goods under formal entry claiming preferential duty or exemption under the various agreements of Generalized System of Preferences. It should be produced at the time of entry and must be in the possession of the Importer at the time of entry. Origin of the goods must be detailed on the commercial invoice.
EUR 1 form Import - An EUR 1 form may be required for goods under formal entry claiming preferential duty or exemption under various bilateral agreements by the European Union countries and some specific countries or groups of countries. It should be produced at the time of entry and must be in possession of the Importer at the time of entry. Origin of the goods must be detailed on the commercial invoice.
Commercial Invoices - Invoices are required for all dutiable shipments relating to commercial transactions between companies; companies and individuals, regardless of the value. Commercial invoices should show freight, insurance and similar charges as separate items when applicable, regardless of the INCOTERM used on the transaction. It must be in French for export shipments or accompanied by a translation. It can be in any official language for import shipments and, if required by customs, must be accompanied by a translation. A party, who is knowledgeable of the transaction, must furnish translation, if requested.
Specific invoice details are required for a number of commodities including the following:
Textiles - the fabric breakdown, whether knit or woven and, for clothing articles, the gender
Marked/mutilated samples - the words "mutilated samples" or " marked samples", "not for resale" as applicable
Software on CD's and floppy disks - The value of software must be shown separately from software support.
Dangerous Goods Certification - Some goods will, in addition to the standard documentation noted above, require DG certification i.e. Perfumes, liquor, chemicals, etc.
Declaration of Antiquity - A declaration must be shown on the invoice for goods over 100 years old. The statement must include the words " circa date" followed by the year of manufacture whether known or estimated.