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Why was my package handed over to customs (UK)?

From time to time I buy things from China, from a guy I know. Last month he sent me some chinese "art tea"- nothing special, just normal tea which opens/uncurls in hot water. Last week I bought 3 special combs for lowering blood pressure (alternative medicine) for myself, my mother and my aunt. When tried to track my package with EMS, got this message: "package handed over to customs" . Checked tracing history for tea package- it was checked by customs also. I did not get any notice/letter with delivery last time. Does it mean they are "keeping an eye on me"??? Will I have to pay import charges on future packages? Is there a limit to the value of import per year? Could not find any info on their website. Would it help if I changed delivery address? Thank you, everybody.

Public Comments

1. they are checking on the material packed some things are not allowed to be sent to other countries
2. they think you're trying to buy bombs or drugs? dunno phone them and ask
3. Because the Olympic Games will be hold in Beijing soon, In order to ensure safety,the Customs will check all import and export' packages
4. I have the same problem, i ordered something through a well known buying and selling website that was coming from China and i noticed today when i checked the tracking with EMS that it had been handed to customs. From what I've read elsewhere it's just procedure at the moment. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Also if it's only for personal use rather than selling things on you shouldn't have to worry about charges and the amount you order per year. But that's only what I've been told so i can be 100% ccertain that that is the case.
5. first off, its really nothing to worry about. this happens to ALL imports. its not because you're a regular importer. in a nutshell, all imports where the value of the goods is less than £18, no import charges are levied. on imports where the value is more than this, import charges are payable - import duty and uk vat. so if your stuff is always worth less than this, that'll be why you've never been charged. as for why it gets 'handed over' (again, in a nutshell), all postal imports are declared at Coventry International Postal Hub. the goods arrive by hands of postal service, then they get handed to customs area in coventry (on the same premises i might add)for the declaration to go through, then they get handed back to postal service - either royal mail or 'parcelfarce', then delivered to you. in the even there are charges, they will have paid them to customs and you'd get a note through the door to ask you to pay the charges to them - then they'll deliver. the only time youll have something to worry about is if you order multiple items to an extent where parcelforce might get the idea you're importing to re-sell. even then its only because it'll delay delivery by a few days. there's so much more behind the scenes stuff but i won't bore you. the link is below if you fancy a nosey.xx