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Part IU.K. Preliminary

1 Interpretation. U.K.

(1)In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

(a)in relation to imported goods, means—

(i)goods which have been imported under the internal or external Community transit procedure for transit through the United Kingdom with a view to exportation where the importation was and the transit and exportation are to be part of one Community transit operation; or

(ii)goods which have, at the port or airport at which they were imported, been placed under the internal or external Community transit procedure for transit through the United Kingdom with a view to exportation where the transit and exportation are to be part of one Community transit operation;

(b)in relation to goods for exportation, means—

(i)goods which have been imported as mentioned in paragraph (a)(i) of this definition and are to be exported as part of the Community transit operation in the course of which they were imported; or

(ii)goods which have, under the internal or external Community transit procedure, transited the United Kingdom from the port or airport at which they were imported and are to be exported as part of the Community transit operation which commenced at that port or airport [F5and for the purposes of paragraph (a)(i) above the Isle of Man shall be treated as if it were part of the United Kingdom];

(d)the provisions of Chapter II of Part I of the Finance Act 1993;]

[F24(e)the provisions of sections 10 to 15 of, and Schedule 1 to, the Finance Act 1997;]

(2)This Act and the other Acts included in the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 shall be construed as one Act but where a provision of this Act refers to this Act that reference is not to be construed as including a reference to any of the others.

(3)Any expression used in this Act or in any instrument made under this Act to which a meaning is given by any other Act included in the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 has, except where the context otherwise requires, the same meaning in this Act or any such instrument as in that Act; and for ease of reference the Table below indicates the expressions used in this Act to which a meaning is given by any other such Act—

Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979

[F42(4)Goods for use in a ship or aircraft as merchandise for sale to persons carried in the ship or aircraft shall be treated for the purposes of the customs and excise Acts as stores if, and only if—

(a)the goods are to be sold by retail either—

(i)in the course of a relevant journey, or

(ii)for consumption on board;

and

(b)the goods are not treated as exported by virtue of regulations under section 12 of the M11Customs and Excise Duties (General Reliefs) Act 1979 (goods for use in naval ships or establishments).

(4A)For the purposes of subsection (4) above a relevant journey is any journey beginning in the United Kingdom and having an immediate destination outside the member States.

(4B)In relation to goods treated as stores by virtue of subsection (4) above, any reference in the customs and excise Acts to the consumption of stores shall be construed as referring to the sale of the goods as mentioned in paragraph (a) of that subsection.]

(5)A person who deals in or sells tobacco products in the course of a trade or business carried on by him shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act to be carrying on an excise licence trade (and to be a revenue trader) notwithstanding that no excise licence is required for carrying on that trade or business.

(6)In computing for the purposes of this Act any period expressed therein as a period of clear days no account shall be taken of the day of the event from which the period is computed or of any Sunday or holiday.

(7)The provisions of this Act in so far as they relate to customs duties apply, notwithstanding that any duties are imposed for the benefit of the Communities, as if the revenue from duties so imposed remained part of the revenues of the Crown.

Textual Amendments

F1Definition in s. 1(1) repealed (1.1.1993) by S.I. 1992/3095, regs. 3(1), 10(2), Sch. 2.

F2Words in s. 1(1) substituted (1.1.1992) by S.I. 1991/2724, reg. 6(2)(a)

F3S. 1(1): words in definition of "armed forces" omitted (1.1.1999) by virtue of S.I. 1998/3086, art. 10(3)

F4S. 1(1): words in definition of "British ship" substituted (1.1.1996) by 1995 c. 21, ss. 314(2), 316(2), Sch. 13 para. 53(2)(a) (with s. 312(1))

F6Words in s. 1(1) repealed (1.1.1993) by Finance (No. 2) Act 1992 (c. 48), s. 82, Sch. 18 Pt. 2.

F7In s. 1(1): definition of "custom warehouse" omitted (01.01.1992) by virtue of S.I. 1991/2725, reg. 3(2)(a)

F9Words in s. 1(1) substituted (1.1.1992) by S.I. 1991/2724, reg. 6(2)(b)

F10Definition in s. 1(1) inserted (1.12.1992 in so far as mentioned in S.I. 1992/2979, art. 4 and 1.1.1993 in so far as then not already in force) by Finance (No. 2) Act 1992 (c. 48), s. 1(5), Sch. 1 para. 1; S.I. 1992/2979, art. 4, Sch. Pt. 2; S.I. 1992/3261, art. 3, Sch.

F12S. 1(1): definition of "free zone goods" substituted (1.9.1994) by 1994 c. 23, ss. 100(1), 101(1), Sch. 14 para. 6

F13In s. 1(1): definition of "free zone regulations" omitted (1.1.1992) by virtue of S.I. 1991/2727, reg. 4(b)

F14S. 1(1): words in definition of “law officer of the Crown” substituted (20.5.1999) by S.I. 1999/1042, arts. 1(2)(b), 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 6; S.I. 1998/3178, art. 2(2), Sch. 4

F18Words in s. 1(1) substituted (1.1.1993) by S.I. 1992/3095, reg. 10(1), Sch. 1 para. 2.

F19Definitions in s. 1(1) inserted (25.7.1991) by Finance Act 1991 (c. 31), s. 11(1)

F20S. 1(1): definition of "representative" inserted (1.6.1997) by 1997 c. 16, s. 50(2), Sch. 6 para. 2(4); S.I. 1997/1305, art. 2

F21Word in s. 1(1)(b) of definition of “revenue trade provisions” repealed (1.12.1993) by 1993 c. 34, ss. 30(2)(a), 213, Sch. 23 Pt. 1(7) (with s. 40(2)(3)); S.I. 1993/2842, art. 3(1).

F22S. 1(1): para. (d) and word in definition of “revenue trade provisions” inserted (1.12.1993) by 1993 c. 34, s. 30(2)(b) (with s. 40(2)(3)); S.I. 1993/2842, art. 3(1).

F23S. 1(1): word in para. (c) of the definition of "the revenue trade provisions of the customs and excise Acts" repealed (19.3.1997 with effect in relation to any gaming on or after 1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 16, s. 113(1), Sch. 18 Pt. 2, Note 2

F24S. 1(1): in definition of "the revenue trade provisions of the custom and excise Acts" para. (e) inserted (19.3.1997) by 1997 c. 16, ss. 13(2), 15, Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 2(2)

F25 S. 1(1): words renumbered as para. (a) in definition of “revenue trader” by Finance Act 1981 (c. 35, SIF 40:1), s. 11, Sch. 8 Pt. 1 para. 1(1)

F26Words in s. 1(1) inserted (25.7.1991) by Finance Act 1991 (c. 31), s. 11(2)

F27S. 1(1): word in para. (a)(i) of definition of “revenue trader” repealed (1.12.1993) by 1993 c. 34, s. 30(3)(a), 213, Sch. 23 Pt. 1(7) (with ss. 40(2)(3)); S.I. 1993/2842, art. 3(1).

F28S. 1(1): para. (ia) of definition of “revenue trader” inserted (1.12.1993) by 1993 c. 34, s. 30(3)(b) (with s. 40(2)(3)); S.I. 1993/2842, art. 3(1).

F29S. 1(1): word in para. (a)(ia) of the definition of "revenue trader" repealed (19.3.1997 with effect in relation to any gaming on or after 1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 16, s. 113(1), Sch. 18 Pt. 2, Note 2

F30S. 1(1): para. (a)(ib)(ic) in definition of "revenue trader" inserted (19.3.1997) by 1997 c. 16, ss. 13(2), 15, Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 2(3)

F31S. 1(1): words in para. (c) of definition of “revenue trader ” inserted (1.12.1993) by 1993 c. 34, s. 30(3)(c) (with s. 40(2)(3)); S.I. 1993/2842, art. 3(1).

F32S. 1(1): words in para. (a)(ii) of definition of "revenue trader" substituted (19.3.1997) by 1997 c. 16, ss. 13(2), 15, Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 2(4)

F34S. 1(1): words in definition of "tons register" substituted (1.1.1996) by 1995 c. 21, ss. 314(2), 316(2), Sch. 13 para. 53(2)(b) (with s. 312(1))

F36Words in s. 1(1) substituted (01.01.1992) by S.I. 1991/2724, reg. 6(2)(c)

F38In s. 1(1): definition of "victualling warehouse" inserted (01.01.1992) by S.I. 1991/2725, reg. 3(2)(b)

F42S. 1(4)(4A)(4B) substituted for s. 1(4) (deemed to have come into force on 1.7.1999 but shall not have effect in relation to any shipment of goods before that date) by 1999 c. 16, s. 10(1)(2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 1 amended by S.I. 1987/2114, reg. 2

Marginal Citations

2 Application to hovercraft.U.K.

(1)This Part, Parts III to VII and Parts X to XII of this Act shall apply as if references to ships or vessels included references to hovercraft, and the said Parts III to VII shall apply in relation to an approved wharf or transit shed which is not in a port as if it were in a port.

(2)All other provisions of the customs and excise Acts shall apply as if references (however expressed) to goods or passengers carried in or moved by ships or vessels included references to goods or passengers carried in or moved by hovercraft.

(3)In all the provisions of the customs and excise Acts “landed ”, “loaded ”, “master ”, “shipped ”, “shipped as stores ”, “transhipment ”, “voyage ”, “waterborne ” and cognate expressions shall be construed in accordance with subsections (1) and (2) above.

(4)References in the customs and excise Acts to goods imported or exported by land, or conveyed into or out of Northern Ireland by land, include references to goods imported, exported or conveyed across any part of the boundary of Northern Ireland; and it is hereby declared that in those Acts references to vehicles include references to hovercraft proceeding over land or water or partly over land and partly over water.

(5)Any power of making regulations or other instruments relating to the importation or exportation of goods conferred by the customs and excise Acts may be exercised so as to make provision for the importation or exportation of goods by hovercraft which is different from the provision made for the importation or exportation of goods by other means.

3 Application to pipe-lines.U.K.

(1)In the customs and excise Acts “shipping ” and “loading ” and cognate expressions, where used in relation to importation or exportation, include, in relation to importation or exportation by means of a pipe-line, the conveyance of goods by means of the pipe-line and the charging and discharging of goods into and from the pipe-line, but subject to any necessary modifications.

(2)In the customs and excise Acts “importer ”, in relation to goods imported by means of a pipe-line, includes the owner of the pipe-line.

(3)Any power of making regulations or other instruments relating to the importation or exportation of goods conferred by the customs and excise Acts may be exercised so as to make provision for the importation or exportation of goods by means of a pipe-line which is different from the provision made for the importation or exportation of goods by other means.

4 Application to certain Crown aircraft.U.K.

(1)The provisions of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 relating to aircraft shall apply in relation to any aircraft belonging to or employed in the service of Her Majesty other than a military aircraft.

(2)In this section “military aircraft ” includes naval and air force aircraft and any aircraft commanded by a person in naval, military or air force service detailed for the purpose of such command.

5 Time of importation, exportation, etc. U.K.

(1)The provisions of this section shall have effect for the purposes of the customs and excise Acts.

(2)Subject to subsections (3) and (6) below, the time of importation of any goods shall be deemed to be—

(a)where the goods are brought by sea, the time when the ship carrying them comes within the limits of a port;

(b)where the goods are brought by air, the time when the aircraft carrying them lands in the United Kingdom or the time when the goods are unloaded in the United Kingdom, whichever is the earlier;

(c)where the goods are brought by land, the time when the goods are brought across the boundary into Northern Ireland.

(3)In the case of goods brought by sea of which entry is not required under [F43regulation 5 of the Customs Controls on Importation of Goods Regulations 1991], the time of importation shall be deemed to be the time when the ship carrying them came within the limits of the port at which the goods are discharged.

(4)Subject to subsections (5) and (7) below, the time of exportation of any goods from the United Kingdom shall be deemed to be—

(a)where the goods are exported by sea or air, the time when the goods are shipped for exportation;

(b)where the goods are exported by land, the time when they are cleared by the proper officer at the last customs and excise station on their way to the boundary.

(5)In the case of goods of a class or description with respect to the exportation of which any prohibition or restriction is for the time being in force under or by virtue of any enactment which are exported by sea or air, the time of exportation shall be deemed to be the time when the exporting ship or aircraft departs from the last port or customs and excise airport at which it is cleared before departing for a destination outside the United Kingdom.

(6)Goods imported by means of a pipe-line shall be treated as imported at the time when they are brought within the limits of a port or brought across the boundary into Northern Ireland.

(7)Goods exported by means of a pipe-line shall be treated as exported at the time when they are charged into that pipe-line for exportation.

(8)A ship shall be deemed to have arrived at or departed from a port at the time when the ship comes within or, as the case may be, leaves the limits of that port.

Textual Amendments

F43Words in s. 5(3) substituted (1.1.1993) by virtue of S.I. 1992/3095, reg. 10(1), Sch. 1 para.3.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5S. 5(3) modified by S.I. 1986/260, regs. 5(a), 18