A Single Market for goods

A Single Market for goods One of the 'four freedoms' of the Single Market is the free movement of goods. Member States may restrict the free movement of goods only in exceptional cases, for example when there is a risk resulting from issues such as public health, environment, or consumer protection.

The risks vary by product sector. Pharmaceuticals and construction products obviously present higher risks than office equipment or pasta for example. In order to minimise risks and ensure legal certainty across Member States, EU legislation harmonising technical regulations has been introduced in particular in the higher-risk product sectors.

Lower-risk sectors have not in general been the subject of legislation on a European level. Trade in this ‘non-harmonised’ sector relies on the 'mutual recognition' principle, under which products legally manufactured or marketed in one Member State should in principle be able to move freely throughout the EU.

Approximately half of the trade in goods within the EU is covered by harmonised regulations, while the other half is accounted for by the ‘non-harmonised’ sector, which is either regulated by national technical regulations or not specifically regulated at all.

For more information on EU policy on free movement of goods, you can visit the Commission's Enterprise and Industry website.

Buying goods in another Member State

There are no limits on what you can buy and take with you when you travel between EU countries, as long as the products purchased are for personal use and not for resale, with the exception of new means of transport. Taxes (VAT and excise) are included in the price you pay and no further payment of tax can be due in any other EU country.

However, special rules apply in the case of goods subject to excise duty, such as alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. To know more on this issue, see the Commission website on Taxation and Customs Union.