If you have an apple tree on your property, you know that the trees usually produce fruit in abundance. This leads to many people usually advertising on social media that others are free to come by and pick apples from them. However there are also people who enter other people’s yard to pick apples and then referring to the common right of access to private land.

According to the common right, we’re allowed to “cross someone else’s land and temporarily stay there”. But what about the fruit that grows there? Can anyone pick from your apple tree?

The fact of the matter is, it’s a common misconception that anyone can walk into other peoples property and start picking apples. According to the common right of access to private land, you can pick berries and mushrooms that grow in forests and fields. You can also pick seeds, nuts and cones from the ground. But the apples that grow on your apple tree are considered as your property. This means that not just anyone can come in to your property and pick your apples. This applies to both the apples that grow on the tree and those that lie on your yard.

Should branches from your tree extend over to the neighbor’s property, the neighbor has the right to cut those branches as long as it doesn’t damage the tree. Your neighbor also gets to pick the apples that fall on their yard. When the apples fall on the neighbor’s yard, they’re considered to be the neighbor’s property. It’s only when they remain on the tree or have fallen onto your yard that the apples are considered as yours.

So when are you allowed to pick apples then?

Some municipalities grow apple trees on municipal land. Those trees are considered as cultivated apple trees. You’re not allowed to pick fruit and berries that are obviously cultivated. However, many municipalities usually advertise that residents can pick the fruit as long as they make sure there’s enough fruit left for others who also want to pick. So in other words, make sure to always ask the owner if you can pick. Or find the nearest apple tree at Äkta Vara. Many owners advertise there that others are free to come and pick from their trees.

All companies that in any way process and store personal data has to have a data protection policy, i.e. a GDPR policy. All information that has a connection to you in some way, whether directly or indirectly, is considered personal data. It can be anything from name, address, phone number and social security details to email address containing your name, ID card number and even your IP address. Even pictures, videos and sound recordings are considered as personal data.

In your GDPR policy, there are a number of details you must have easily accessible to your users. The information has to be straight-forward and easy to understand. Otherwise, the risk is you can be fined for violating GDPR. And above all, there has to be a legal ground that allows you to collect other people’s personal data.

There are six legal grounds that allows you to process personal data. Organizations that process personal data in any way has to fulfill at least one of these grounds:

• You need consent from the user to be able to save their data.
• You need to have an agreement with the user that requires their personal data to be saved.
• You need to have a legal obligation that requires you to save certain personal data by law.
• You need to show that you’re processing personal data to be able to protect peoples fundamental interests, for example to save their lives. This mainly applies to healthcare.
• You need to be an authority and process personal data as part of your work as an authority and in the interest of the public.
• You need to have your interests to process personal data outweigh the interests of your users making processing personal data necessary. This can apply to when your organisation is part of a large group and you having to share personal data with others within the group in order to be able to pay salaries and the like.

1. Your GDPR policy must include who’s responsible of the personal data

Who’s responsible for personal data depends on the form of the company. It’s usually not a person, but the organization itself. If you’re a company, then the company is responsible for personal data. If you’re an association, it’s the association who’s responsible. One individual can also be responsible for personal data, such as in individual companies.

2. Why do you collect personal data?

Different organizations have different reasons for collecting personal data. What’s important to keep in mind is that the personal data you collect doesn’t only apply to your users, but also to your employees. For example, data you collect in payroll systems has to comply with GDPR. The same goes for when you want to communicate with your users, for example through a newsletter.

Regardless of the reason, it’s particularly important to be clear about why you’re collecting personal data. Both so your users can easily get that information, but also because you can’t use the information you’ve collected in any other way than how you’ve specified. For example, you can’t collect email addresses when your users create accounts at your webpage and then at a later stage use the same information to start sending newsletters to them. If you want to change the purpose, you have to disclose the information to your users and be clear about how the changes affects them and why you’ll collect their personal data going further.

3. Where do you store the personal data?

Do you store the data within the EU or do you store it in a country outside of the EU? Depending on where you store the data, you need to check that the country has a sufficiently high level of protection of personal data according to the EU/EEA standard. If the country doesn’t, you can’t store personal data in that country. So you need to check whether there is a decision from the European Commission regarding the level of protection in the country you want to store the data in. If there’s no such decision, you need to have standard contract clauses that the European Commission has decided on. But since such clauses sometimes means you also need to take other protective measures according to the EU Court, it would be a good idea to bring in a GDPR expert who can make sure that your GDPR policy is air-tight.

4. The type of personal data you collect has to be included in your GDPR policy

Even when it comes to which personal data you collect, you have to be clear and can’t change and collect other personal data without approval. If there’s a change in your systems that causes you to collect new personal data, you have to share that information with your users. Remember that it’s important to be clear and include exactly all information that’s considered personal data. All information that can in any way be linked to individuals is personal data and must be categorized in your GDPR policy.

5. Who will have access to the personal data?

Are there other parties who will have access to the data? Do you have external suppliers who have access to them? Or are there other parties you collaborate with who will have access to the personal data you collect? Then this has to be stated in your policy. You also have to clarify rights and obligations your partners have. The important thing here is that the personal data you collect isn’t at risk of being misused by partners using it for purposes other than what you’ve informed your users about.

6. How long will you store the data?

Depending on how you intend to use the personal data, the period for how long you intend to store it varies. Simply put, you can save the data as long as you need it for the purpose you’ve specified in your policy. When the purpose is no longer relevant, you have to delete the data.

Sometimes, however, you may need to state that you don’t know how long you’ll need to store the personal data. Then you instead have to state why you can’t limit the storage in time.

7. Your users’ rights have to be stated in your GDPR policy

According to the GDPR, everyone has the right to access their personal data from organizations collecting them. Everyone has the right to both receive an extract and have information changed if it’s incorrect. In addition, everyone has the right to request to have their data deleted in the vast majority of cases. It’s only if there are no other legal obstacles that prevent you from deleting the data that this doesn’t apply. However, this exception mainly applies to authorities. For most companies, if a user wants the company to delete the person’s data, the company has to do so.

8. Where do users submit any complaints?

In January 2021, the Data Inspectorate changed its name to The Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection. They’re the ones who ensure that Swedish organizations comply with the GDPR. It’s also where private individuals can report complaints if they’re concerned about how an organization handles their personal data. That’s why you have to include contact information to the Authority for Privacy Protection in your policy so that your users can easily contact them about any questions, concerns and complaints.

When it’s time to renovate your home, there are a couple of things you need to keep an eye on. Firstly, you need to know and be sure of what your dream home should look like. Secondly, you have to be aware of your rights as a client when you renovate. Even if you do thorough research to find a reputable handyman, there’s always the risk of things going wrong. But luckily, you have the law on your side. So you don’t need to worry if the worst should happen.

The absolute most important thing with all orders from handymen is to make sure you have documentation of the communication. Email rather than call and be clear about what you want. Use both text and images and carefully read the quotes you receive. This way you can always go back and check what was said. And you can also compare and see if the end result is what was agreed upon.

If anything goes wrong, you always have the right to demand that the handyman corrects the error. Then the handyman has to bear any costs resulting from correcting the error. This applies to both material, travel and labor costs.

Just as you have the right to have any wrongdoings corrected, the handyman also has the right to correct the error. By that we mean that the handyman doesn’t have to make any deductions to the price as a first option. If you want the handyman to lower the cost of the job as a first attempt of righting the wrong, the handyman can refuse you that.

If the handyman can’t correct the fault

If it’s impossible for the handyman to correct the error, you are, however, entitled to a deduction from the price. The deduction should correspond to the error. For example, it could be the amount of what it costs you to hire another handyman to correct the error. And if it’s a cosmetic defect, i.e. a defect that has nothing to do with how something functions, the price reduction is usually roughly the same as the reduction in value caused by the defect.

Revoking an agreement means that the agreement is no longer valid and that any work that has been started immediately stops. Since errors occured means the handyman has already started the work, you can’t revoke the entire contract. However, you can revoke parts of the agreement. Then you don’t have to pay the handyman for the parts that’s been revoked. However, you have to pay for the work the handyman has already performed. The handyman also has the right to claim back materials that won’t be used due to cancellation of the job. If it involves greater inconvenience and costs for you to return the material, they can’t request it back.

The handyman has to advise you from unnecessary work

As a handyman, you have to notify customers of any work deemed unnecessary. By that, we mean that if the customer wants help sanding their patio, but the handyman sees that the entire patio actually needs to be redone, the handyman has to let you know. This is because otherwise, there will be additional costs for you as a client sand a patio that you then have to tear down.

If your handyman doesn’t advise you against work that they know is unnecessary, you generally only need to pay for the part of the work the handyman performs before seeing that any continuing work done is unnecessary. As a handyman, you have to advise against the primary agreement and instead try to agree on work that gives the sustainable result each customer wants without it leading to additional costs in the long run.

The Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY) has now stated that four large companies in Sweden have violated the GDPR while using Google Analytics (GA) as a measurement tool. The four companies IMY has reviewed are CDON, Coop, Dagens Industri and Tele2, all of which now have to stop using GA. In addition, Tele2 receives a fine of SEK 12 million and CDON of SEK 300,000. The version of GA the companies used is from August 14, 2020.

The basis is how the four companies transfer personal data to the United States through GA. The European Court of Justice determined in 2020 that the United States doesn’t have a sufficiently high level of protection of personal data. Because of that, forwarding personal data from a country within the EU/EEA to the USA is a violation of GDPR. GA is a common measurement tool for many companies. So this case is also relevant for other companies in Sweden that use GA.

According to IMY, information has been transferred that IMY believes can be connected with other unique information also being passed on. IMY also believes that the companies haven’t taken any technical measures to protect users personal data according to EU/EEA standard. Even if the companies have other technical solutions aiming to protect personal data, they aren’t sufficient. The companies have also used standard contract clauses as a basis for decisions on the transfer of personal data.

– These decisions have bearing not only on these four companies, but can also provide guidance for other organizations that use Google Analytics, says Sandra Arvidsson, lawyer who led the reviews of the companies.

Spotify receives fine of SEK 58 million for violations of the GDPR

Spotify was also fined in June for violating GDPR. At the time, IMY determined that the information from Spotify isn’t clear enough regarding how they use saved personal data. According to GDPR, every individual has the right to know which personal data a company handles and how it’s used.

Ensuring that a company follows GDPR regulations isn’t always easy. As a company, you can transfer personal data if the country you forward the data to is one that the EU Commission has decided has a sufficiently high level of protection of personal data. If it’s a country the EU Commission hasn’t made a decision about, companies can transfer data with the support of standard contract clauses that the EU Commission has decided on. However, sometimes additional protective measures has to be taken as well along with standard clauses according to the EU Court.

Making sure your company follows GDPR regulations isn’t always easy. Especially when you also have to make sure that the tools and programs you use also comply with GDPR.

Do you want to make sure that your company isn’t violating GDPR? All through July, you can schedule a free video call with our GDPR expert Adib Hosseini. Use the code ADIBJULY23 when you book your call in the Kliently app.* Adib is specialized in the commercial legal field for companies and GDPR. Specifically within competition rules and EU legal rules for companies.

^{*The code is valid until July 31, 2023. The code is only valid when booking a call with our lawyer Adib Hosseini. The promo code gives you a free video call of 15 minutes.}

It may not be common to travel abroad with a cat, but when it happens, it’s important that you know what applies. The requirements are different depending on the country you’re traveling to, both when traveling out of Sweden and when returning. What applies in your case depends on which country you plan to visit. Mainly it’s what the rabies situation is like in the country you’re visiting that you need to prepare for. The world’s countries are divided into three categories depending on how widespread rabies is in each country:

1. EU countries and other countries with working routines for detecting rabies.
2. Countries outside the EU where the rabies situation is documented and followed up.
3. Countries outside the EU where the rabies situation isn’t under control.

1. Travel with a cat to EU countries and other countries with working routines to detect rabies

When you travel to EU countries and countries outside the EU with functioning routines to detect rabies, you have to make sure that your cat, among other things:

• is ID tagged with a chip by a veterinarian or approved ID tagger.
• is ID marked with an ISO microchip by a veterinarian. The rabies vaccine has to be valid for the duration of your trip and also be approved in the country you’re visiting. Otherwise, you need to revaccinate your cat during the trip.
• has a pet passport where the date of or reading of the ID tag and ID number is stated.

When you travel back to Sweden, you have to register your cat with customs. You can either do this when your passing through customs or in advance on the Swedish Customs Administration’s website.

2. Countries outside the EU where the rabies situation is documented and followed up.

According to the World Health Organization, several countries outside the EU have working routines for detecting rabies. You can check which countries these are on the Swedish Agricultural Agency’s website. When traveling to one of these countries with your cat, you have to ensure that your cat, among other things:

• is ID marked with an ISO microchip by a veterinarian.
• is ID marked with an ISO microchip by a veterinarian. The rabies vaccine has to be valid for the duration of your trip and also be approved in the country you’re visiting. Otherwise, you need to revaccinate your cat during the trip.

Some cats, despite vaccination, don’t have sufficient antibody protection against rabies. So you also have to make sure your cat has enough antibodies against rabies by taking a blood test from your cat before you travel. This can be done by a titer test.

When traveling back to Sweden, you can use your cat’s EU passport as long as the cat’s rabies vaccination was entered in the passport before you left Sweden/EU. This means that the vaccination has to be valid throughout your entire trip. You also need to register your cat with customs when returning to Sweden.

3. Travel with a cat to countries outside the EU where the rabies situation isn’t under control

If you’re planning to travel to a country that doesn’t have control over the rabies situation, it’s important you’re careful with your cat. You can easily check which countries have problems with rabies on the website of the Swedish Agricultural Agency. If you plan to travel to one of these countries, you have to ensure that your cat, among other things:

• is ID marked with an ISO microchip by a veterinarian.
• is vaccinated against rabies but only after the cat has been ID marked. The rabies vaccine has to be valid for the duration of your trip and also be approved in the country you’re visiting. Otherwise, you need to revaccinate your cat during the trip.
• has done a titer test. Meaning your cat has been to a vet who has checked that your cat has enough antibodies against rabies through a blood sample. The test can only be done at the earliest 30 days after your cat has been vaccinated against rabies.

When you travel back to Sweden, you can use your cat’s EU passport as long as both the cat’s rabies vaccination and the titer test was entered in the passport before you left Sweden/EU. This means that the vaccination has to be valid throughout your entire trip. You also need to register your cat with customs when returning to Sweden.

It’s not just rabies that can be a problem

In addition to keeping track of the rabies situation, there can be other requirements for traveling with a cat. The best way to find out what the requirements are is by contacting the country’s veterinary authority. For example, some countries require that the cat is dewormed against echinococcosis. And some countries only allow certain breeds of cats in the country.

Even the airlines sometimes have special requirements that you need to check before traveling. In addition, if the cat isn’t traveling with you, you need to obtain a pet owner’s declaration that gives authorization and states that you have allowed your cat to travel with another agent. You also need to send copies of your travel bookings so the agents know when you’re traveling and through which countries.

In Sweden there’s no quarantine for cats. This means that if you travel with your cat and don’t meet the requirements, you risk your cat not being allowed to enter Sweden. For safety’s sake, bring a chip reader with you that you have tested reading your cat’s chip. Otherwise, if the chip can’t be read at customs, you risk your cat not being allowed to enter in to the country.

If you plan to travel with a dog, it’s especially important to make sure you know of the requirements of the country you’re visiting, regarding both taking the dog out of Sweden and bringing the dog back in. When you travel with a dog, it’s usually rabies you need to protect your dog from. What applies in your case depends on the state of the rabies situation in the country you want to visit. The world’s countries are divided into three categories based on the rabies situation:

1. EU countries and countries with functioning routines for detecting rabies
2. Countries where the rabies situation is a problem but where it’s documented and followed up.
3. Countries where the rabies situation is out of control.

Regardless of which country you’re traveling to, it’s also important that you check whether the country has special requirements for traveling dogs. Different countries have different requirements. If you visit Norway, Finland, Ireland and Malta, your dog has to be dewormed against echinococcos. And Denmark only allows certain dog breeds in the country. You can easily find out what applies in your case from the country’s veterinary authorities or the country’s embassy in Sweden.

1. EU countries and countries with functioning routines for detecting rabies

In addition to the countries within the EU, there are other countries with functioning routines for detecting rabies. On the Swedish Agricultural Agency’s website you can find which countries these are. If you’re planning a trip to and from one of these countries, you have to make sure that your dog, among other things:

• is ID tagged with a chip by a veterinarian or approved ID tagger.
• is vaccinated against rabies, but only after the dog has been ID marked.
• has an EU passport for pets.

When you enter Sweden, you have to register your dog with customs. If the customs point is unmanned, you need to call and wait for the customs staff so they can register your dog. In other words, you can’t pass customs until the staff has registered your dog.

If you and your dog travel on separate dates or on different routes, your dog has to be insured during the trip. Since the airline also could have special conditions, you need to check what applies if you plan to fly.

2. Countries where the rabies situation is a problem but where it is documented and followed up

Many countries outside the EU either don’t have rabies or are very good at detecting cases of rabies according to the World Health Organization. You can also find which countries these are on the Swedish Agricultural Agency’s website.

To travel to and from these countries, you have to make sure your dog, among other things:

• is ID tagged with a chip by a veterinarian or approved ID tagger.
• has a valid vaccination against rabies, but only after the dog is ID marked. If you don’t have time to revaccinate your dog before the validity period of the latest vaccine dose has expired, you have to wait 21 days after the vaccination before you’re allowed to travel with your dog.
• has a health certificate from the Swedish Agency for Agriculture if the vaccination against rabies expires during the trip. The certificate has to be filled in by an official veterinarian in the country you’re visiting. You have to travel with your dog via an Entry Point in the EU within 10 days. These are special places within the EU where animals brought in from countries outside the EU can be checked. Sweden has two Entry Points, one at Arlanda and one at Landvetter.
• has an EU passport for pets in which the latest vaccination against rabies is documented.

3. Travel with a dog to countries where the rabies situation is out of control

In countries where the rabies situation is a problem, it’s important you’re careful with your dog. If you travel to a country with widespread rabies, you have to be extra careful and, among other things, make sure that your dog:

• is ID tagged with a chip by a veterinarian or approved ID tagger.
• has a valid vaccination against rabies, but only after the dog is ID marked. If you don’t have time to revaccinate your dog before the validity period of the latest vaccine dose has expired, you have to wait 21 days after the vaccination before you’re allowed to travel with your dog.
• has enough antibodies against rabies. This can be done by having a veterinarian take a blood sample from your dog.
• has a valid health certificate that’s issued only 3 months after the blood sample has been taken.
• has a health certificate from the Swedish Agency for Agriculture if the vaccination against rabies expires during the trip. The certificate has to be filled in by an official veterinarian in the country you’re visiting. Afterwards you have to travel with your dog to an Entry Point in the EU within 10 days. These are special places within the EU where animals brought in from countries outside the EU can be checked. Sweden has two Entry Points, one at Arlanda and one at Landvetter.
• has an EU passport for pets in which the latest vaccination against rabies is documented.

All inclusive trips are an incredibly convenient way to travel for those who want to enjoy the sun and swim and want to leave the managing of the trip to someone else. That’s why the trips are also very popular. But there are a couple of things that are good to know when you book an all inclusive trip.

1. You may be entitled to get the trip cheaper

Did you know that you can get the trip cheaper if changes in taxes, fees, exchange rates or fuel costs are reduced after your purchase? In the conditions of many travel companies, it’s stated that changes in the price can take place up to 20 days before departure. This way, the travel companies are able to cover any increased costs. But if the costs are lowered, you’re also entitled to a deduction of the cost. This only applies to changes due to taxes, fees, exchange rates and fuel costs.

This doesn’t apply if the travel company doesn’t state in the conditions that minor changes in the price can take place. And if the travel company increases the price by more than eight percent of the total price for the trip, you have the right to cancel the trip altogether and get a full refund.

2. If what you pay for isn’t what you get

Many trips with all inclusive include excursions, events and the like. It’s not uncommon for there to be changes in the content of the trip after you’ve paid for it. Regardless of whether there are changes on site or if the changes are on the travel route itself, you’re entitled to a price deduction if the trip ends up in a worse standard because of the changes. How much you can deduct depends on the changes. You simply receive a deduction that’s equal to the cost of the changes.

If there are changes made that leaves you with extra costs, you may be able to claim damages from the travel company. And if the changes are so great that the contents of the trip doesn’t match what you’ve paid for at all, you have the right to cancel the trip and get your money back. In such cases, there’s no standard practice to say if you’ll get your claim for cancelling approved. It’s rather assessed on a case-by-case basis. Regardless, make sure to save all your receipts.

3. Should the flight in your all inclusive trip be cancelled

Sometimes it happens that the flight in your all inclusive trip is cancelled. If this happens, you should contact the travel company and not the airline in question. The travel company is obliged to rebook you on another flight. If that doesn’t work, you have the right to cancel the trip and get a full refund.

If your flight is cancelled, you might also be entitled to compensation for the time you have lost. The EU has special rules that apply to canceled flights. If you request compensation for your canceled flight, contact the airline and not the travel company.

4. If the travel company changes the date of your all inclusive trip

If the travel company changes the dates of your trip so that the trip is shorter, you’re entitled to a deduction for the days you miss. But they can also change the dates of the trip without you being entitled to compensation. This applies if it’s stated in the travel company’s terms and conditions that minor changes in dates can take place.

If the change of travel date is of great importance to you, you might have the right to cancel the trip and get a refund. This is also assessed on a case-by-case basis and you must be able to prove that the change affects you negatively in some way. You can do this by making sure to send in receipts or other documents to prove your case.

Once you’ve planned your trip, the last thing you want to know is that your flight has been cancelled. Make sure to have the right information and be well prepared in case the worst would happen. Then you might at least be able to get compensation for your canceled flight.

There are specific rules that apply to canceled flights within the EU. This applies to both flights that take off from an airport in the EU and flights with EU-registered airlines that land within the EU. Regardless of the reason for the cancellation and when you have received the information, you always have the right to:

• get rebooked to the next possible flight, alternatively to a flight at a later time if it suits you better.
• get a refund for the trip that has been cancelled.

When you want money back for the canceled flight

If you choose to get a refund for the flight, the airline has to refund the ticket costs within seven days. The airline cannot pay you with, for example, credit receipts or gift cards unless it’s something you choose yourself. If the cancellation means that the purpose of your trip is lost, you might be entitled to a free flight to the place where you began your trip. This applies if the reason why you wanted to travel was to take part in an event that only takes place during specific dates, for example a conference, a wedding, a funeral and the like.

If you choose to get money back from the airline, you can’t ask for more compensation from them. However, if you choose to rebook your trip, you might be entitled to compensation for any accommodation and for food and drink. If choosing to rebook your trip to the next possible flight means you have to pay for an overnight stay in a hotel, the airline is obliged to cover those costs. If the hotel is outside the airport, the airline has to pay for transportation to and from the airport.

If another airline offers a trip sooner than the airline you have chosen, you have the right to demand to be rebooked with the other airline. However, it’s important that you always contact your airline before booking another trip. Otherwise, you risk missing out on compensation.

What happens if the airline refuses to compensate for a canceled flight?

If your airline refuses you in any way, you can demand compensation afterwards. Keep in mind, however, that you might not be reimbursed for all costs. Make sure to keep any costs to a minimum to be on the safe side. This applies for both if you rebook your trip with another airline and if you need to pay for food, drinks and hotel accommodation.

If you don’t get help from your airline, you can submit a case to the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes afterwards. You will have to send in a description of what happened, copies of all the receipts you claim compensation for and any other documents they need to receive to assess your case. The National Board for Consumer Disputes will then assesses whether you’re entitled and what you’re entitled to.

The website Hallå konsument has a handy flight calculator where you can quickly find out what you’re entitled to.

If the airline refers to force majeure

Force majeure is a common clause in all contracts. It means that the agreement doesn’t apply in extreme circumstances that are beyond human control. Examples of such circumstances are if a country becomes politically unstable in a short time, if a natural disaster or extreme weather conditions occur, if a strike breaks out and the like. In such circumstances, the airline doesn’t have to reimburse you. Technical faults on the aircraft aren’t a basis for force majeure.

When an airline refers to force majeure, they have to first show that they have tried to get the flight going as usual. Otherwise, the airline will primarily decide whether the canceled flight is due to force majeure or something else.

How much alcohol you can bring into Sweden is something many people wonder about when it’s time to travel abroad. If you visit a country within the EU, you won’t have to pay duty or tax on the alcohol you bring back. In addition, you can buy large quantities if you’re going to serve alcohol at a wedding or party. But when it comes to countries outside the EU, it’s not always easy to know when you should and shouldn’t declare the alcohol you’ve bought during your trip. That’s why we’ve come up with a practical list that’s perfect to have with you when you’re on holiday abroad.

How much alcohol can you bring into Sweden?

Regardless of which country you buy the alcohol from, you must be 20 years old, transport or carry the alcohol yourself and be able to assure that the alcohol is for your or your family’s private use in order to bring the alcohol into Sweden. If you buy alcohol in a country outside the EU, you won’t have to pay any fees if you take in at the most:

• 1 liter of spirits or 2 liters of fortified wine (this includes sparkling wine)
• 4 liters of wine and
• 16 liters of strong beer

For all quantities in addition to this, you have to declare the alcohol to the Swedish Customs and pay both customs duty and tax. Depending on what kind of alcohol you want to bring in, the cost is different. Below you can see what the duty and tax charges are for different alcoholic beverages.

• For spirits, you have to pay SEK 4/litre in customs duty and SEK 265/litre in tax.
• For strong wine, you have to pay SEK 2/litre in customs duty and SEK 85/litre in tax.
• For wine, you have to pay SEK 1/litre in customs duty and SEK 38/litre in tax.
• For strong beer, you must pay SEK 3/litre in customs duty and SEK 21/litre in tax.

If you buy tobacco and other products containing nicotine in a country within the EU for your own use, you don’t have to pay any extra fees. However, if you shop from a country outside the EU, there’s a limit to how much you can bring into Sweden without paying duty and tax on it. We’ll go through what you need to keep in mind if you plan to buy products with tobacco and/or nicotine on your next trip abroad. If you have any other questions about what you can bring in to Sweden and what you need to think about, you can easily ask our lawyers in the Kliently app.

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Regardless of which country you’ve been in, you must be at least 18 years of age to be allowed to bring tobacco and products containing nicotine into Sweden. You also have to be able to show that what you’ve purchased is for your own or your family’s private use and you have to purchase and transport the products yourself. The customs official on site is the one who decides whether what you have bought can be considered reasonable for private use, but they do have some guidelines they follow. According to Swedish customs, these amounts are reasonable for private use:

• 800 cigarettes
• 400 cigarillos
• 200 cigars
• 1 kilo of smoking tobacco
• 1 kilo of other tobacco

How much tobacco can you bring into Sweden?

If you buy tobacco and products containing nicotine in a country outside the EU, you won’t have to pay any fees if you bring in less than:

• 200 cigarettes or
• 100 cigarillos or
• 50 cigars or
• 250 g of smoking tobacco or
• 250 g other tobacco products or
• a proportional mix of the products above

You can also bring duty-free snus to a total value of SEK 4,700 if you fly or take a ferry. Otherwise, you can only bring snus to the total value of SEK 3,300 duty-free. Snus is regarded a products along with goods like clothes, jewellery, technology, etc than you may buy on your trip. And so the total value of what you have bought on the trip cannot exceed SEK 4,700 and SEK 3,300 respectively.

There are certain products containing nicotine that, regardless of whether you have bought them from a country within the EU or outside, have a limit on how much you can bring into Sweden duty-free. Regardless of country, you can only bring with you:

• 20 ml e-liquid
• 200 g of other products containing nicotine, such as nicotine chewing gum and nicotine nasal spray.

Customs duties and taxes on tobacco and products containing nicotine

For any quantities above this, you have to declare the goods to the Swedish Customs and pay both customs duty and/or tax. Depending on what you want to bring in, the cost is different. Below you can see what the customs and tax charges are for different tobacco and nicotine products:

• For cigarettes, you have to pay 34 Swedish pennies/piece in customs duty and 202 Swedish pennies/piece in tax.
• For cigars, you have to pay 86 Serdish pennies/piece in customs duty and 226 Swedish pennies/piece in tax.
• For smoking tobacco, you have to pay SEK 428/kg in customs duty and SEK 2,495/kg in tax.
• For other tobacco products, you have to pay SEK 428/kg in customs duty and SEK 2,495/kg in tax.
• For snus, you have to pay SEK 104/kg in customs duty and SEK 785/kg in tax.
• For e-liquid from a country outside the EU, you have to pay SEK 320/liter in customs duty and SEK 3,300/liter in tax.
• For e-liquid from another EU country, you have to pay SEK 2,000/litre in tax.
• For highly concentrated e-liquids from a country outside the EU, you have to pay SEK 320/liter in customs duty and SEK 6,600/liter in tax.
• For highly concentrated e-liquids from another EU country, you have to pay SEK 4,000/litre in tax.
• For other products containing nicotine from a country outside the EU, you have to pay SEK 390/kg in customs duty and SEK 1,225/kg in tax.
• For other products containing nicotine from another EU country, you have to pay SEK 200/kg in tax.