Estonia toughening rules for carrying cargo over Russian border

TALLINN. Oct 20 (Interfax) - Estonia is toughening the rules governing transportation through the border with Russia of household appliances, clothing items, tobacco products, chemical substances and personal hygiene items, as well as IT products and dual-purpose products, the Estonian Tax and Customs Board told Interfax on Thursday.

The restrictions on taking goods to and from the countries of the European Union are added to the previous lists of banned goods and are based on the eighth package of sanctions against Russia that took effect on October 7.

"Customs officials considered the lists of banned goods and their components and introduced a new list within two weeks. Customs officials pay close attention to sanctioned goods, and there have been no problems with the new list yet," Virgo Treinbuk, the head of the Eastern Customs Point, said.

Treinbuk said the new package of sanctions includes goods to which no restrictions previously applied. They include, for example, personal hygiene items, soap, skincare products, mouth hygiene products, backpacks, ladies' bags, and clothes for women and girls.

The transition period for goods transported on the basis of contracts will be effective until January 8, 2023 if contracts signed before October 7, 2022 are produced.