Customs and Excise Management Act 1979

154 Proof of certain other matters. U.K.

(1)An averment in any process in proceedings under the customs and excise Acts—

(a)that those proceedings were instituted by the order of the Commissioners; or

(b)that any person is or was a Commissioner, officer or constable, or a member of Her Majesty’s armed forces or coastguard; or

(c)that any person is or was appointed or authorised by the Commissioners to discharge, or was engaged by the orders or with the concurrence of the Commissioners in the discharge of, any duty; or

(d)that the Commissioners have or have not been satisfied as to any matter as to which they are required by any provision of those Acts to be satisfied; or

(e)that any ship is a British ship; or

(f)that any goods thrown overboard, staved or destroyed were so dealt with in order to prevent or avoid the seizure of those goods,

shall, until the contrary is proved, be sufficient evidence of the matter in question.

(2)Where in any proceedings relating to customs or excise any question arises as to the place from which any goods have been brought or as to whether or not—

(a)any duty has been paid or secured in respect of any goods; or

(b)any goods or other things whatsoever are of the description or nature alleged in the information, writ or other process; or

(c)any goods have been lawfully imported or lawfully unloaded from any [F1ship, aircraft or railway vehicle]; or

(d)any goods have been lawfully loaded into any [F2ship, aircraft or railway vehicle] or lawfully exported or were lawfully waterborne; or

(e)any goods were lawfully brought to any place for the purpose of being loaded into any [F3ship, aircraft or railway vehicle] or exported; or

(f)any goods are or were subject to any prohibition of or restriction on their importation or exportation,

then, where those proceedings are brought by or against the Commissioners, a law officer of the Crown or an officer, or against any other person in respect of anything purporting to have been done in pursuance of any power or duty conferred or imposed on him by or under the customs and excise Acts, the burden of proof shall lie upon the other party to the proceedings.

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 154(2)(c) substituted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 106 (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2020/1449, reg. 3 and 2020 c. 26, Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 4(a)

F2Words in s. 154(2)(d) substituted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 106 (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2020/1449, reg. 3 and 2020 c. 26, Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 4(a)

F3Words in s. 154(2)(e) substituted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 106 (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2020/1449, reg. 3 and 2020 c. 26, Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 4(a)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1Ss. 152–155 extended by Car Tax Act 1983 (c. 53, SIF 40:2), s. 1(4), Sch. 1 para. 8(8), Value Added Tax Act 1983 (c. 55, SIF 40:2), s. 39(9), S.I. 1987/1521, reg. 3(2)(b); 1987/2105, reg. 5(2) and 1988/1476, art. 5(2)

C2Ss. 144-148, 150-155 applied (01.01.1992) by S.I. 1991/2724, reg. 10(2)

Ss. 144-148, 150-155 applied (01.01.1992) by S.I. 1991/2725, reg. 6(2)

C3Ss. 144-148, 150-155 applied (01.01.1992) by S.I. 1991/2727, reg. 7(2)

C4S. 154 extended (27.9.1993) by 1993 c. 36, ss. 71(7), 78.

C5Ss. 144-148, 150-155 applied (23.6.1993) by S.I. 1993/1353, reg. 4(2)

Ss. 145-155 applied (3.5.1994) by 1994 c. 9, s. 64, Sch. 7 Pt. IV para. 11

Ss. 145-155 applied (with modifications) (1.9.1994) by 1994 c. 23, ss. 72(12), 101(1), Sch. 13 para. 13 (with Sch. 13 para. 9)

Ss. 145-155 applied (29.4.1996) by 1996 c. 8, s. 60, Sch. 5 Pt. III para. 17

Ss. 150-155 applied (1.3.1995) by S.I. 1995/271, reg. 12(2)

Ss. 150-155 applied (15.11.1996) by S.I. 1996/2721, reg. 12(2)

Ss. 150-155 applied (1.5.1999) by S.I. 1999/1261, reg. 4(4)

Ss. 150-155 applied (14.10.1999) by S.I. 1999/2821, reg. 4(4)

Ss. 150-155 applied (14.10.1999) by S.I. 1999/2822, reg. 4(4)

Ss. 152-155 applied (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1618, regs. 5(1)(b), 6

Ss. 150-155 applied (with modifications) (15.7.1998) by S.I. 1998/1531, reg. 4(4)

Ss. 152-155 applied (1.7.1995) (with modifications) by S.I. 1995/1447, reg. 4(1)(b)

Ss. 150-155 applied (25.5.2000) by S.I. 2000/1408, reg. 3(4)

Ss. 145-155 applied (28.7.2000) by 2000 c. 17, s. 30(1), Sch. 6 Pt. VIII para. 96

Ss. 150-155 applied (28.9.2000) by S.I. 2000/2620, reg. 12(2)

Ss. 145-155 applied (11.5.2001) by 2001 c. 9, s. 26(5)

Ss. 145-155 applied (11.5.2001) by 2001 c. 9, s. 28, Sch. 6 para. 5

Ss. 150-155 applied (31.3.2002) by S.I. 2002/868, reg. 4(4)

C24Ss. 154, 155 applied (6.4.2009) by The Export Control Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/3231), arts. 1, 41(4)

C25Ss. 150-155 applied by 1983 c. 18, s. 1D(3) (as inserted (30.11.2009) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), s. 153(7), Sch. 17 para. 3; S.I. 2009/3074, art. 2(q))

C26S. 154 applied by SI 2009/1749, art. 13(3) (as substituted (11.12.2009) by The North Korea (United Nations Sanctions) (Amendment) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3213), arts. 1(1), 11)

C28Ss. 154, 155 applied by S.I. 2009/886, art. 11(3) (as substituted (17.12.2010) by The Iran (United Nations Sanctions) (Amendment) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2978), arts. 1(1), 15)

C51S. 154 applied (with modifications) (14.3.2018) by The Export Control (North Korea Sanctions) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/200), arts. 1, 24(8)-(10)

C52Ss. 144-156 applied (with modifications) (6.4.2018) by The Soft Drinks Industry Levy (Enforcement) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/264), regs. 1(1), 2, Sch. (with regs. 3-5)

C53S. 154 applied (with modifications) (13.8.2018) by The Export Control (Burma Sanctions) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/871), arts. 1, 10(8)-(10)

C77Ss. 154, 155 applied (with modifications) (29.4.2021 at 5.00 pm) by The Myanmar (Sanctions) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/496), regs. 1(3), 65(5)(6)

C78Ss. 145-155 applied (with effect in accordance with s. 85(1)(b) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2021 (c. 26), ss. 81, 85(1)(a); S.I. 2021/1409, regs. 3, 4

C79S. 154 applied (with modifications) (28.12.2022) by The Haiti (Sanctions) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1281), regs. 1(2), 45(5)(6)

C80S. 154 applied (with modifications) (14.12.2023) by The Iran (Sanctions) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1314), regs. 1(2), 84(8)(9) (with regs. 98-100)

C82S. 154(2) amended by S.I. 1990/2167, art. 4, Sch. para. 23

S. 154(2) applied (17.3.2000) by S.I. 1992/3155, art. 3A(6) (as inserted (17.3.2000) by S.I. 2000/426, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 9)