Europeans to get hit by tax on digital cameras

EU mulling over new levy on movie capable digi-cams

18 July 2007 8:58 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

Some higher-end digital cameras being imported into the European Union could face extra taxes.

EU officials, considering the video functionality of digital cameras, say they should be classed as video recorders which would attract a minimum 4.9% import duty.

The Japanese Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA), which includes Nikon, Canon and Sony as members has expressed concern about the possible changes to the import laws.

The EU trade experts have made a recent decision that in order to be classed as a digital camera, the devices must not be able to record at least 30 minutes of a single sequence of video in a quality of 800 x 600 pixels or higher at 23 frames per second or higher.

According to Reuters, an EU official said on that the change was unlikely to affect cameras sold to ordinary consumers as it related to the more expensive models that have very good video recording capability.

But with more compact cameras offering more advanced movie functionality, this could see an increasing number of digi-cams being classified as camcorders.

The European Commission is apparently likely to formally adopt the decision of the EU trade experts within the next few months.

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