Subject to Articles 12 to 15, trousseaux and household effects, whether or not new, belonging to a person transferring his or her normal place of residence from a third country to the customs territory of the Community on the occasion of his or her marriage, shall be admitted free of import duties.

Subject to the same conditions, presents customarily given on the occasion of a marriage, which are received by a person fulfilling the conditions laid down in paragraph 1 from persons having their normal place of residence in a third country shall also be admitted free of import duties. The value of each present admitted duty-free may not, however, exceed 1 000 ECU.

Save in exceptional circumstances, relief shall be granted only in respect of goods entered for free circulation:

• not earlier than two months before the date fixed for the wedding (in this case the relief shall be subject to the lodging of appropriate security, the form and amount of which shall be determined by the competent authorities), and

• not later than four months after the date of the wedding.

The goods referred to in Article 11 may be released for free circulation in several separate consignments within the period referred to in paragraph 1 above.

Until 12 months have elapsed from the date on which their entry for free circulation was accepted, goods which have been admitted duty-free under Article 11 may not be lent, given as security, hired out or transferred, whether for a consideration or free of charge, without prior notification to the competent authorities.

Any loan, giving as security, hiring out or transfer before the expiry of the period referred to in paragraph 1 shall entail payment of the relevant import duties on the goods concerned, at the rate applying on the date of such loan, giving as security, hiring out or transfer, on the basis of the type of goods and the customs value ascertained or accepted on that date by the competent authorities.