Import ban on Putinka and other Russian vodka

The ban is in line with EU sanctions due to Russia’s unprovoked military attack on Ukraine. In Finland, the Customs service informs travelers that no strong alcoholic beverages, such as vodka, whiskey, or rum can b brought from Russia. 

In Norway, the new restrictions are harder to find but are now published as an appendix to the regulation on restrictive measures imposed on Russia.

The new rules include bottles purchased by individual travelers in the Russian duty-free shops on the frontier, as well as larger commercial imports. 

Low alcoholic drinks, like beer and wine, however, are allowed to bring under current Customs regulations on tax-free quotas or as taxed products.

“The EU has imposed extensive sanctions against Russia, and due to the lifting of the coronavirus restrictions, we want to remind private individuals that the import and export sanctions also apply to them.

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Private individuals should also take into account the travel advice on Russia provided by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, even though the coronavirus restrictions are now lifted,” says Enforcement Director Mikko Grönberg with the Finnish Customs in a statement. 

Individual travelers should also be aware they can’t export so-called luxury goods to Russia if the item has a value that exceeds €300. Examples of such products are jewelry, smartphones, sports equipment as well as many clothes. 

Stong alcohol is listed among sanctioned products because it generates substantial income for Russia, money that makes it possible to destabilize the situation in Ukraine, the new regulations argue.