Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 (repealed)Show full title

CHAPTER 2 U.K. Declarations for release for free circulation

Section 1 U.K. Incomplete declarations

Article 254 U.K.

[F1 Declarations for release for free circulation which the customs authorities may accept, at the declarant's request, without their containing some of the particulars referred to in Annex 37 shall contain at least the particulars referred to in boxes 1 (first and second subdivisions), 14, 21 (nationality), 31, 37, 40 and 54 of the single administrative document and:]

• a description of the goods in terms that are sufficiently precise to enable the customs authorities to determine immediately and unambiguously the combined nomenclature heading or subheading concerned,

• where the goods are liable to ad valorem duties, their value for customs purposes, or, where it appears that the declarant is not in a position to declare this value, a provisional indication of value which is considered acceptable by the customs authorities, due account being taken in particular of the information available to the declarant,

• any further particulars considered necessary by the customs authorities in order to identify the goods, implement the provisions governing their release for free circulation and determine the amount of any security required before the goods may be released.

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2286/2003 of 18 December 2003 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (Text with EEA relevance).

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2286/2003 of 18 December 2003 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (Text with EEA relevance).

Article 255 U.K.

1. Declarations for release for free circulation which the customs authorities may accept at the declarant's request without their being accompanied by certain of the necessary supporting documents shall be accompanied at least by those documents which must be produced before the goods declared can be released for free circulation.

2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, a declaration not accompanied by one or more of the documents required before the goods can be released for free circulation may be accepted once it is established to the satisfaction of the customs authorities that:

(a) the document concerned exists and is valid;

(b) it could not be annexed to the declaration for reasons beyond the declarant's control;

(c) any delay in accepting the declaration would prevent the release of the goods for free circulation or make them liable to a higher rate of duty.

Data relating to missing documents shall in all cases be indicated in the declaration.

Article 256 U.K.

1. The period allowed by the customs authorities to the declarant for the communication of particulars or production of documents missing at the time when the declaration was accepted may not exceed one month from the date of such acceptance.

[F2 In the case of a document required for the application of a reduced or zero rate of import duty, where the customs authorities have good reason to believe that the goods covered by the incomplete declaration may qualify for such reduced or zero rate of duty, a period longer than that provided for in the first subparagraph may, at the declarant's request, be granted for the production of the document, if justified in the circumstances. That period may not exceed four months from the date of acceptance of the declaration. It cannot be extended.]

Where the missing particulars to be communicated or documents to be supplied concern customs value, the customs authorities may, where this proves absolutely necessary, set a longer time limit or extend the period previously set. The total period allowed shall take account of the prescribed periods in force.

[F3 2. Where a reduced or zero rate of import duty is applicable to goods released for free circulation within tariff quotas or, provided that the levying of normal import duties is not re-introduced, within tariff ceilings or other preferential tariff measures, the benefit of the tariff quota or preferential tariff measure shall only be granted after presentation to the customs authorities of the document on which the granting of the reduced or zero rate is conditional. The document must in any case be presented:

• before the tariff quota has been exhausted, or

• in other cases, before the date on which a Community measure re-introduces the levying of normal import duties.]

3. Subject to paragraphs 1 and 2, the document on whose presentation the granting of the reduced or zero rate of import duty is conditional may be produced after the expiry date of the period for which the reduced or zero rate was set, provided the declaration in respect of the goods in question was accepted before that date.

Textual Amendments

F2 Substituted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 881/2003 of 21 May 2003 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (Text with EEA relevance).

F3 Inserted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1427/97 of 23 July 1997 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code.

Textual Amendments

F2 Substituted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 881/2003 of 21 May 2003 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (Text with EEA relevance).

F3 Inserted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1427/97 of 23 July 1997 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code.

Article 257 U.K.

1. The customs authorities' acceptance of an incomplete declaration shall not prevent or delay the release of the goods thus declared, unless other grounds exist for so doing. Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 248, release shall take place in accordance with the conditions laid down in paragraphs 2 to 5 below.

2. Where the late production of particulars or of a supporting document missing at the time when a declaration is accepted cannot affect the amount of duties to which the goods covered by the said declaration are liable, the customs authorities shall immediately enter in the accounts the sum payable, calculated in the usual manner.

3. Where, pursuant to Article 254, a declaration contains a provisional indication of value, the customs authorities shall:

• enter immediately in the accounts the amount of duties determined on the basis of this indication,

• require, if necessary, the lodging of a security adequate to cover the difference between that amount and the amount to which the goods may ultimately be liable.

4. Where, in circumstances other than those referred to in paragraph 3, the late production of particulars or of a supporting document missing at the time when a declaration is accepted may affect the amount of duties to which the goods covered by the said declaration are liable:

(a) if late production of any missing particulars or document may lead to the application of duty at a reduced rate, the customs authorities shall:

• (a) immediately enter in the accounts the import duties payable at the reduced rate,

• require the lodging of a security covering the difference between that sum and the sum which would be payable were the import duties on the goods in question calculated at the normal rate;

(b) if the late production of any missing particulars or document may lead to admission of the goods with total relief from duties, the customs authorities shall require the lodging of a security covering the amount which would be payable were the duties charged at the normal rate.

5. Without prejudice to any subsequent changes which may arise, particularly as a result of the final determination of the customs value, the declarant shall have the option, instead of lodging a security, of requesting the immediate entry in the accounts:

• where the second indent of paragraph 3 or the second indent of paragraph 4 (a) applies, of the amount of duties to which the goods may ultimately be liable, or

• where paragraph 4 (b) applies, of the amount of duties calculated at the normal rate.

Article 258 U.K.

If, at the expiry of the period referred to in Article 256, the declarant has not supplied the details necessary for the final determination of the customs value of the goods, or has failed to provide the missing particulars or documents, the customs authorities shall immediately enter in the accounts as duties to which the goods in question are subject the amount of the security provided in accordance with the provisions of the second indent of Article 257 (3), the second indent of Article 257 (4) (a) or Article 257 (4) (b).

Article 259 U.K.

An incomplete declaration accepted under the conditions set out in Articles 254 to 257 may be either completed by the declarant or, by agreement with the customs authorities, replaced by another declaration which complies with the conditions laid down in Article 62 of the Code.

In both cases, the operative date for the fixing of any duties and the application of other provisions governing the release of goods for free circulation shall be the date of acceptance of the incomplete declaration.

Section 2 U.K. Simplified declaration procedure

Article 260 U.K.

1. The declarant shall, upon written request containing all the necessary information, be authorized in accordance with the conditions and in the manner laid down in Articles 261 and 262, to make the declaration for release for free circulation in a simplified form when goods are presented to customs.

2. Such simplified declaration may be in the form

• either of an incomplete declaration on a Single Administrative Document, or

• of an administrative or commercial document, accompanied by a request for release for free circulation.

It shall contain at least the particulars necessary for identification of the goods.

3. Where circumstances permit, the customs authorities may allow the request for release for free circulation referred to in the second indent of paragraph 2 to be replaced by a general request in respect of release operations to take place over a given period. A reference to the authorization granted in response to such general request shall be entered on the commercial or administrative document presented pursuant to paragraph 1.

4. The simplified declaration shall be accompanied by all documents the production of which may be required to secure the release of the goods for free circulation. Article 255 (2) shall apply.

5. This Article shall be without prejudice to Article 278.

Article 261 U.K.

1. The authorization referred to in Article 260 shall be granted to the declarant on condition that it is possible to guarantee an effective check on compliance with import prohibitions or restrictions or other provisions governing release for free circulation.

2. Such authorization shall in principle be refused where the person who has made the request:

• has committed a serious infringement or repeated infringements of customs rules,

• declares goods for release for free circulation only occasionally.

It may be refused where the person in question is acting on behalf of another person who declares goods for release for free circulation only occasionally.

3. Without prejudice to Article 9 of the Code, the authorization may be revoked where the cases referred to in paragraph 2 arise.

Article 262 U.K.

1. The authorization referred to in Article 260 shall:

• designate the customs office(s) competent to accept simplified declarations,

• specify the form and content of the simplified declarations,

• specify the goods to which it applies and the particulars which must appear on the simplified declaration for the purposes of identifying the goods,

• make reference to the security to be provided by the person concerned to cover any customs debt which may arise.

It shall also specify the form and content of the supplementary declarations, and shall set the time limits within which they must be lodged with the customs authority designated for this purpose.

2. The customs authorities may waive the presentation of the supplementary declaration where the simplified declaration concerns goods the value of which is below the statistical threshold laid down by the Community provisions in force and the simplified declaration already contains all the information needed for release for free circulation.

Section 3 U.K. Local clearance procedure

Article 263 U.K.

Authorization to use the local clearance procedure shall be granted in accordance with the conditions and in the manner laid down in Articles 264 to 266 to any person wishing to have goods released for free circulation at his premises or at the other places referred to in Article 253 and who submits to the customs authorities a written request to this end containing all the particulars necessary for the grant of the authorization:

• in respect of goods subject either to the Community or common transit procedure and for which the person referred to above is authorized to use the simplified procedures to be carried out at the office of destination in accordance with [F4 Articles 406, 407 and 408],

• in respect of goods previously placed under a customs procedure with economic impact, without prejudice to Article 278,

• in respect of goods which, after having been presented to customs pursuant to Article 40 of the Code, are consigned to those premises or places in accordance with a transit procedure other than that referred to in the first indent,

• in respect of goods which are brought into the customs territory of the Community with an exemption from the requirement that they be presented to customs, pursuant to Article 41 (b) of the Code.

Textual Amendments

F4 Substituted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2787/2000 of 15 December 2000 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (Text with EEA relevance).

Textual Amendments

F4 Substituted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2787/2000 of 15 December 2000 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (Text with EEA relevance).

Article 264 U.K.

1. The authorization referred to in Article 263 shall be granted provided that:

• the applicant's records enable the customs authorities to carry out effective checks, in particular retrospective checks,

• it is possible to guarantee an effective check on compliance with [X1 import prohibitions] or restrictions or any other provisions governing release for free circulation.

2. Authorization shall in principle be refused where the applicant:

• has committed a serious infringement or repeated infringements of customs rules,

• declares goods for release for free circulation only occasionally.

Editorial Information

X1 Inserted by Corrigendum to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (Official Journal of the European Communities No L 253 of 11 October 1993).

Editorial Information

X1 Inserted by Corrigendum to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (Official Journal of the European Communities No L 253 of 11 October 1993).

Article 265 U.K.

1. Without prejudice to Article 9 of the Code, the customs authorities may refrain from revoking the authorization when:

• the holder fulfils his obligations within any time limit set by them, or

• the failure to fulfil an obligation is without any real consequence for the correct operation of the procedure.

2. An authorization shall in principle be revoked where the case referred to in the first indent of Article 264 (2) arises.

3. An authorization may be revoked where the case referred to in the second indent of Article 264 (2) arises.

Article 266 U.K.

[F5 1. To enable the customs authorities to satisfy themselves as to the proper conduct of operations, the holder of the authorization referred to in Article 263 shall:

(a) in the cases referred to in the first and third indents of Article 263;

(i)

where the goods are released for free circulation upon their arrival at the place designated for that purpose:

• duly notify the customs authorities of such arrival in the form and the manner specified by them, for the purpose of obtaining release of the goods, and

• enter the goods in his records;

(ii)

where release for free circulation is preceded by temporary storage of the goods within the meaning of Article 50 of the Code at the same place, before expiry of the time-limit set under Article 49 of the Code:

• duly notify the customs authorities, in the form and the manner specified by them, of his desire to have the goods released for free circulation, for the purpose of obtaining release of the goods, and

• enter the goods in his records;

(b) in the cases referred to in the second indent of Article 263:

• (b) duly notify the customs authorities, in the form and the manner specified by them, of his desire to have the goods released for free circulation, for the purpose of obtaining release of the goods, and

• enter the goods in his records.

The notification referred to in the first indent shall not be required where the goods to be released for free circulation have already been placed under the customs warehousing procedure in a type D warehouse;

(c) in the cases referred to in the fourth indent of Article 263, upon arrival of the goods at the place designated for that purpose:

• (c) enter the goods in his records;

(d) make available to the customs authorities, from the time of the entry in the records referred to in points (a), (b) and (c), all documents, the production of which is required for the application of the provisions governing release for free circulation.]

2. On condition that checks on the proper conduct of operations are not thereby affected, the customs authorities may:

[F5 (a) permit the notification referred to in points (a) and (b) of paragraph 1 to be effected as soon as the arrival of the goods becomes imminent;]

(b) in certain special circumstances, where the nature of the goods in question and the rapid turnover so warrant, exempt the holder of the authorization from the requirement to notify the competent customs office of each arrival of goods, provided that he supplies the said office with all the information it considers necessary to enable it to exercise its right to examine the goods should the need arise.

In this case, entry of the goods in the records of the person concerned shall be equivalent to release.

[F5 3. The entry in the records referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 1 may be replaced by any other formality offering similar guarantees stipulated by the customs authorities. The entry shall indicate the date on which it is made and the particulars necessary for identification of the goods.]

Textual Amendments

F5 Inserted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2193/94 of 8 September 1994 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code.

Textual Amendments

F5 Inserted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2193/94 of 8 September 1994 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code.

Article 267 U.K.

The authorization referred to in Article 263 shall lay down the specific rules for the operation of the procedure and in particular shall stipulate:

• the goods to which it applies,

• the form of the obligations referred to in Article 266 and the reference to the guarantee to be provided by the person concerned,

• the time of release of the goods,

• the time limit within which the supplementary declaration must be lodged with the competent customs office designated for that purpose,

• the conditions under which goods are to be covered by general, periodic or recapitulative declarations, as appropriate.