Finance Act 1981

Failure to export. U.K.

56 (1) Where any goods in respect of which an entry has been accepted have not been shipped or exported by land, an officer may by notice given to the exporter require the goods to be exported within such time as is specified in the notice; and if the notice is not complied with the entry shall be treated as cancelled.

(2) Where, in the case of any such goods as are mentioned in subsection (1) above which are due to be loaded into a ship or aircraft specified in the entry or by the person having charge of them at the port or customs and excise airport of intended shipment, no notice has been served under that subsection and the goods have not been shipped by the time the ship or aircraft departs from the port or airport at which it has been cleared by the proper officer, then—

(a) the entry shall be treated as cancelled at that time; and

(b) if the goods are dutiable or restricted goods, they shall be liable to forfeiture unless notice of the failure to export them is given to the proper officer immediately after that time.

(3) Where an entry in respect of dutiable or restricted goods is treated as cancelled by virtue of this section—

(a) if the exporter would have been entitled to a payment of any sum from the Commissioners or under [F1 an EU] instrument by virtue of exporting the goods, he shall take such steps as the Commissioners may direct to ensure that the sum is not paid to him or, if it has already been paid, he shall (unless the Commissioners agree to his retaining it) repay it within seven days or such longer period as the Commissioners may allow;

(b) the exporter shall within such period as may be specified by directions given by the Commissioners furnish them with such information and such documents as may be specified in the directions; and

(c) if the goods have not been forfeited under subsection (2)(b) above, they shall be warehoused or, if the Commissioners so require, shall be moved to such place as the Commissioners may specify.

(4) Where an entry in respect of goods which are not dutiable or restricted goods is treated as cancelled by virtue of this section, the exporter shall within such period as may be specified by directions given by the Commissioners furnish them with such information and such documents relating to the goods as may be specified in the directions.

(5) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with subsection (3) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £1,000 and the goods shall be liable to forfeiture.

(6) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with subsection (4) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £500.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Act substituted (22.4.2011) by The Treaty of Lisbon (Changes in Terminology) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1043), arts. 2, 3, 6 (with arts. 3(2)(3), 4(2), 6(4)(5))