Importing parcels abroad from Italy can be a real tour de force, especially for the inexperienced or those who have never done it before. Although learning how to import parcels from abroad to Italy may seem useless to many, we assure you that this is absolutely not the case and that it can happen to everyoneFor example, it could be useful if you want to buy a product from an international brand, but do not deal with international shipments; Or it could be useful if a distant relative wants to send a gift, a parcel or anything else and so on.
For this reason, we decided to write this article, which aims to be a real guide on how to import parcels from abroad to Italy: we will try to understand together and explain in detail everything you need to know before importing parcels and, last but not least, we will define what items are prohibited with regard to importing parcels from abroad to Italy.
But before understanding and explaining all this, would it not be good to know what the actual procedure to do to import parcels from Italy to abroad? Suffice it to say that the procedure is very simple and also inexpensive, especially if you choose a platform for dispatch parcels, as ours of ShippingComoda.co.ukAll you have to do is book a shipment right from our platform, where you can find all the necessary forms and also all the different shipping options. On our website, you can also find out how many days the shipment will take to arrive at its destination, depending on the selected area of the world, and the various prices already include any customs costs.
Having said that, let's continue with our article and delve into the subject of importing parcels from abroad to Italy!
Everything you need to know before importing parcels from abroad to Italy
When it comes to parcel shipping and, as in this case, international shipping, there are many different doubts about the procedures, limits and forms to be filled in. In this paragraph, we will try to answer all possible questions about this subject, trying to explain everything you need to know before importing parcels from abroad to Italy. Leaving aside, however, the more traditional aspects, such as the choice of the express courier most suitable (which could be the DHL courier, UPS courier and so on), in this paragraph we will focus on those that are two fundamental aspects regarding the import of parcels from abroad to Italy: these two aspects are the difference between European and non-European imports and the Italian customs system.
Let's start with the difference between European and non-European importsIn fact, deciding to import a parcel from Spain is very different from importing one from the United States of America. But what does this difference depend on? This difference depends on the accession of the different countries to the Schengen Convention, a convention that only allows the free movement of goods and products between countries that have signed up to it. According to this convention, therefore, importing a parcel that arrives from Europe anyway is very simple, just like a domestic shipment. But what about non-European shipments? The question, in this case, becomes more complicated, since customs will carry out all the necessary checks on the parcel and what is inside it, along with all the various documents required for shipment.
As for the Italian customs system, it must be said that imports from abroad to Italy (as we have already mentioned) are subject to various control procedures, useful for verifying the suitability and legality of the product about to enter the country. Also very important, as far as the Italian customs system is concerned, are the concepts of duties, customs tariffs and exemptions: let's find out together what we are talking about.
- I duties are taxes calculated on the value and quantity of products entering the country and are based on the indications in the customs tariffs.
- These customs tariffs are actual codes, which can be used to identify each individual product subject to duties (mentioned above). Each country has its own customs tariffs, which can easily be found on the online customs website of the country in question.
- Finally, the deductibles are limits which, if properly respected, allow no customs tariffs to be paid.
Importing parcels from abroad to Italy: which products are illegal and prohibited
But what are these customs controls for? As it is easy to guess, customs controls serve to verify that no objects that are considered illegal and prohibited enter Italian soil; these controls are carried out by a specific and determined staff of customs agents, who are perfectly familiar with the list of prohibited objects and who, consequently, have all the skills and knowledge to be able to carry out this work in an entirely correct manner.
In this paragraph, we will list precisely those products that are considered illegal and prohibited with regard to the import of parcels from abroad to Italy. We would like to emphasise, however, that this list is not a complete list and that to find all the useful information on what are the illegal and prohibited products, we refer you to the official website of the Italian customs. Having said that, here is the list of illegal and prohibited products:
- any food, vitamin or food supplement containing stevia;
- products containing or based on tryptophan;
- products containing fibres of asbestos;
- thermometers based on mercury;
- products containing DMF;
- medicines;
- objects with flexible metal blades;
- toys containing copper sulphate;
- seeds and legumes from the’Egypt, due to the recent outbreaks caused by Escherichia coli bacteria;
- food-like stationery;
- tobacco.
All these products and many others are banned for one simple and obvious reason: they are banned because of their hazardousness to the health of the population and to the well-being of the environment; others, however, are prohibited because they would break certain Italian laws.
