Private vehicles returning from the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus are prohibited from carrying fuel in additional containers, while commercial vehicles found transporting fuel from the north face having their tanks emptied and an administrative fine of €4 per litre.
Speaking on SIGMA’s Protoselido programme, Customs Department spokesperson Giorgos Constantinou discussed the increase in the number of people travelling to the occupied areas during periods of rising fuel prices.
He explained that the difference in fuel prices is substantial, making the increased flow of people across the border unsurprising. However, he stressed that the ethical considerations surrounding the issue are separate from the legal framework that the Customs Department is required to enforce.
According to Constantinou, the Green Line Regulation permits refuelling for personal use. As a result, checks at crossing points focus primarily on commercial vehicles including lorries, buses, and commercial vans.
What applies to private vehicles?
The Customs Department spokesperson clarified that private motorists are permitted to fill their vehicles’ fuel tanks in the occupied areas, provided the vehicle is for private use.
However, he emphasised that carrying fuel in an additional container is prohibited, even if the quantity is only 10 litres.
Constantinou explained that there has been a misinterpretation of the relevant European directive, which provides an exemption for carrying an additional fuel container with a capacity of up to 10 litres under specific conditions.
The directive concerns the transport of goods from a third country into the European Union. One of its conditions, he said, is that transporting fuel in an additional container must be an occasional occurrence.
In Cyprus, the Customs Department considers that this condition is not met because of the country’s short travelling distances.
He added that daily checks are carried out to detect additional quantities of fuel, whether 10, 20, or even 40 to 50 litres.
Constantinou stressed that motorists should be aware that transporting fuel in additional containers inside private vehicles is prohibited.
Commercial vehicles face €4-per-litre fines
Regarding commercial vehicles, Constantinou explained that refuelling in the occupied areas is prohibited because the Green Line Regulation does not permit the importation of fuel for commercial use.
When lorries, articulated vehicles, buses or commercial vans are found with tanks filled with fuel from the occupied areas, customs authorities empty their fuel tanks and impose an administrative fine of €4 per litre.
He also clarified that penalties may be more severe depending on the frequency of violations and the circumstances of each case.
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