I don't know the truth or fiction of this, but 
this is a post that I received from my Hard Rock 
Cafe pin traders list from a member in the UK. 
Since the online community of cel collectors is 
in the same boat as my HRC pin group (frequently 
mailing things overseas), I thought this a 
relevant cross-post.

If anyone has further information on this that I 
can pass on to my HRC pin list, please let me 
know.

Many Sharp Smiles,
--Drac


-----BEGIN REPOSTED MESSAGE-----

Hi All,
please read whats below, it will effect all of 
us, even if you dont live in the European Union. 
When I can get some more info I will let you all 
know.

At present people living in the UK can import 
goods worth less than £18.00 (about $29.00) duty 
free. This amount varies in all the EU countries. 
It is known as the de minimis (minor importance) 
rule. The European Commission is trying to 
abolish this rule. If this rule is abolished all 
imports regardless of value will be charged 
import duty, (the seller will have to put the 
commodity code and country of origin on the
customs declaration) the amount will depend on 
the commodity code. The import duty is also based 
on the postage and packing cost and any insurance 
on the goods. The UK buyer will then be charged 
VAT (sales tax) at 17.5% on the total plus a Post
office clearing fee. Recently a local man had 
some software posted to him from USA, the cost of
the software was £24.00, he was charged tax, duty 
and clearing fees of £28.00, roughly 117% in 
taxes on the original purchase price. A large 
proportion of our VAT goes to the European Union, 
they are not interested in how much it costs to 
collect a tax, only that they receive their share 
of the tax. Swedish Customs have calculated it 
will cost them £332 million to collect revenues
of £128 million, as Sweden is not a big postal 
importer I hate to think what the UK will have to 
pay to collect the revenue. Apart from slowing 
down every delivery as so much more paperwork is 
required, in many cases we will have to go to the 
Post sorting office to collect out goods. Also no
Post Office in any country can afford such costs, 
so they will put the clearance fees up. Our 
sellers around the world will have to spend more 
time filling in Customs declaration forms, no 
more undervaluing goods, or ticking the gift box 
on the green label. One for one trades will 
certainly cease, a single pin will cost roughly
$10.40 in duty, VAT and clearance fees. The 
European Commission frequently comes up with 
stupid ideas, straight bananas and frankfurters 
only being made in Frankfurt spring to mind so it 
is not to late for anyone living in Europe to 
contact their MEPs and explain to them how stupid
the idea is. If you dont live in Europe perhaps 
you can find an address for e-mails to the 
European Commission and tell them how you feel.
Please feel free to send this email to all your 
friends or post it to any bulletin boards or 
collectors groups that you may be members of. 
With luck and som