Customs and Excise Management Act 1979

1 (1) Where under subsection (1) of the principal section imported goods of any class or description are chargeable with a duty of excise in respect of any article contained in the goods as a part or ingredient of them and it appears to the Treasury on the recommendation of the Commissioners that to charge the duty according to the quantity of the article used in the manufacture or preparation of the goods (as provided by the principal section) is inconvenient and of no material advantage to the revenue or to importers of goods of that class or description, then the Treasury may by order give a direction in relation to goods of that class or description under and in accordance with this paragraph.

(2) An order under this paragraph may direct that in the case of goods of the class or description to which it applies the duty chargeable shall be calculated in such of the following ways as may be provided by the order, that is to say—

(a) at a rate specified in the order by reference to the weight, quantity or value of the goods; or

(b) by reference to a quantity so specified of the article, and (where material) on the basis that the article is of such value, type or quality as may be so specified.

(3) If it appears to the Treasury on the recommendation of the Commissioners that, in the case of goods of any class or description, the net amounts payable in the absence of any direction under this paragraph are insignificant, the order may direct that any such goods shall be treated for the purpose of the duty as not containing the article in respect of which the duty is chargeable.

(4) If it appears to the Treasury on the recommendation of the Commissioners that goods of any class or description are substantially of the same nature and use as if they consisted wholly of the article in respect of which the duty is chargeable, the order may direct that any such goods shall be treated for the purpose of the duty as consisting wholly of that article.

(5) In making an order under this paragraph the Treasury shall have regard to the quantity and (where material) the type or quality of the article in question appearing to them, on the advice of the Commissioners, to be ordinarily used in the manufacture or preparation of goods of the class or description to which the order applies which are imported into the United Kingdom.