If you are travelling within the Union, you normally have the right to carry personal belongings with you without any restriction.

For public interest purposes, however, Member States can establish bans or conditions on the use of specific products, such as drugs, products which are derived from protected animal species, or certain pornographic material.

Firearms

With regard to firearms, if they are used for hunting, they must be declared at border customs on entering Spain. Once the Guardia Civil has checked the documentation they will issue a hunting licence valid for two months which can be extended by another two months, but only once. When European citizens return home after their hunting trip they must declare their return at the border customs and give back the licence they were issued with.

Weapons used in competitions are covered by a European card, obtainable in all EU countries, which is valid for travelling to compete in these countries for five years. In Spain, it can be obtained from the Guardia Civil. If the weapons are for private use, entry is normally prohibited.

Medicines

On the other hand, even though you have the right to carry any medication that has been prescribed by a doctor or which you have bought legally in your own country of residence or in the country where you are travelling, the quantity of medication you are travelling with should be within the limits corresponding to your own personal needs.

Health care access

If you are an EU national and you suddenly take ill or have an accident during a visit to any other EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you can get free or reduced-cost emergency treatment. The E 111 form or European health insurance card, which replaces paper forms, can be useful as evidence that you are entitled to these benefits. Pick up the European health insurance card or one of these forms from your local social security or sickness insurance office before you travel. A passport, however, is often enough in some countries to receive medical treatment.

Only publicly funded emergency treatment is included in this scheme and each country has its own rules for public medical provision. In some countries, treatment is free, in some you have to pay part of the cost, and in others you have to pay the full cost and then claim a refund. So keep all your bills, prescriptions and receipts.

Immunisation

There are currently no immunisation requirements for travel to any of the fifteen Member States of the European Union, although there are some requirements or recommendations for some of the EU's overseas territories. Check with your doctor before you go.

There are no restrictions on what you may buy and carry with you when travelling within the European Union, provided your purchases are for personal use and not for resale.

Tobacco and Alcohol

For guidance, goods are considered to be for your own use if you have no more than: 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarettes, 200 cigars, 1 kg of tobacco, 10 litres of spirits, 20 litres of fortified wine (such as port or sherry), 90 litres of wine (of which a maximum of 60 litres of sparkling wine), 110 litres of beer.

Meat and dairy products

There are no restrictions on carrying any of these products if you are travelling within the EU because of strict common veterinary standards across its territory. Temporary restrictions would only be introduced if there were an outbreak of an infectious animal disease, such as foot and mouth disease, which would be widely publicised in the media.

If you are arriving in the European Union from other non-EU countries, however, you are not allowed to bring with you any meat, meat products, milk or milk products without official veterinary documentation. The aim of these new, stricter rules is to prevent the spread of serious animal diseases. You can bring in powdered infant milk, infant food and special foods required for medical reasons, provided the product does not require refrigeration before consumption, it is a packaged proprietary brand and the packaging is unbroken.

Consumer protection

Some basic laws for consumer protection apply throughout the EU, for example rules on pricing, product safety and misleading advertising. If you cannot resolve a problem directly with a seller in another EU country, you can get practical information and help from a European consumer centre. You can also get advice on settling the dispute out of court through the European extra judicial network.

Text last edited on: 06/200

Source: European Union
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