A Finnish media outlet has reported on the archipelago's tax peculiarities and recommends tourists "not to bring souvenirs from the Canary Islands"
The Finnish government, through its customs service, recently issued a warning to its citizens regarding the specific tax and customs regulations for purchases made in the Canary Islands. This information was picked up by the Finnish newspaper Iltalehti, which, with a sensationalism typical of the British press, decided to sound the alarm and headline its article: “Don’t bring back souvenirs like these from the Canary Islands . ”
Due to the archipelago's status as an Ultraperipheral Region of the European Union, the Canary Islands are not part of the EU's fiscal territory, which implies significant differences in taxes and customs regulations. One of the main tax differences enjoyed by the archipelago is the Canary Islands General Indirect Tax (IGIC), which stands at 7%, in contrast to the 21% VAT applied on the peninsula.
In addition, there are specific restrictions on the amount of goods that tourists can bring back to Finland without incurring additional taxes. For example, up to 16 litres of beer, four litres of wine, one litre of spirits and two litres of drinks with less than 22% alcohol are allowed.
As for phytosanitary products, such as fresh fruit, vegetables and plants, certificates are required that are often difficult to obtain, with exceptions for pineapples and bananas. Food of animal origin and personal medicines are also subject to restrictions. The total value of purchases must not exceed 430 euros; exceeding this limit requires the goods to be declared at customs, with specific regulations for alcohol and tobacco.
This sudden alarm could influence travel decisions or cause Finns to be more hesitant to shop in Canary Island shops. This is an aspect that the tourism sector should be aware of, especially considering that, according to recent data, the Canary Islands are the preferred destination for Finns, with 146.320 holiday packages sold in 2023, which represents 80,9% of the total package holidays sold to Spain.
