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The Export (Penalty) Regulations 2003

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Statutory Instruments

2003 No. 3102

CUSTOMS AND EXCISE

The Export (Penalty) Regulations 2003

Made

2nd December 2003

Laid before Parliament

2nd December 2003

Coming into force

23rd December 2003

The Commissioners of Customs and Excise, being a Department designated for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 M1 in relation to customs matters of the [F1European Union], in exercise of the powers conferred upon them by the said section 2(2) and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Regulations:

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

Citation and CommencementU.K.

1.  These regulations may be cited as the Export (Penalty) Regulations 2003 and shall come into force on 23 December 2003.

InterpretationU.K.

2.  In these regulations—

the Act” means the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 M2;

appeal tribunal” means [F2the First-tier Tribunal or, where determined by or under Tribunal Procedure Rules, the Upper Tribunal];

the Commissioners” means the Commissioners of Customs and Excise;

the Code” means Council Regulation 2913/92/EEC M3;

Community customs rules” means customs rules, as defined in Article 1 of the Code;

Community export duty” means any of the duties, charges or levies which are export duties within the meaning of the Code (see the definition of “export duties” in Article 4(11) M4 of that Code);

contravene” includes fail to comply with;

declaration” in relation to export has the meaning assigned by Article 4(17) of the Code;

demand notice” means a demand notice within the meaning of regulation 6;

export” means that “customs procedure” within the meaning of Article 4(16)(h) of the Code;

exporter” has the meaning assigned to it by Article 788 of the Implementing Regulation;

[F3HMRC” means Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.]

the Implementing Regulation” means Commission Regulation 2454/93/EEC M5;

notice” means notice in writing;

person” means a person, of a description specified in Column 2 of the Schedule to these Regulations to whom that provision referred to in Column 1 applies;

penalty” shall mean a penalty up to the maximum amount specified in Column 3 of the schedule to these Regulations;

relevant export rule” shall mean any Community imposed duty, obligation, requirement, or condition in relation to export imposed or implemented by or under any of the following provisions or combination of provisions in any case where Community export duty is not chargeable or payable in application of the rule—

(a)

Community customs rules in relation to export;

(b)

the Act, as it applies in implementation of Community customs rules in relation to export from the [F4European Union];

(c)

any other Act, or statutory instrument, as it applies in implementation of Community customs rules in relation to export from the [F4European Union];

(d)

any directly applicable [F4EU] legislation as it applies in application of Community customs rules in relation to export;

(e)

any relevant international rules applying in relation to export;

specified in Column 1 of the Schedule to these Regulations;

relevant international rules” means international agreements so far as applying in relation to export from the [F4European Union] and having effect as part of the law of the United Kingdom by virtue of—

(a)

any directly applicable [F4EU] legislation, or

(b)

any Act or statutory instrument implementing such agreement.

representative”, in relation to any person, means—

(a)

his personal representative,

(b)

his trustee in bankruptcy or interim or permanent trustee,

(c)

any receiver or liquidator appointed in relation to that person or any of his property,

or any other person acting in a representative capacity in relation to that person.

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

M21979c.2

M3O.J.L302.19.10.92,p1

M4Amended by Council Regulation (EC) 82/97, O.J. L017, 21.01.1997 p1 and Council Regulation (EC) 2700/2000 O.J. L311, 12.12.2000, p17.

M5O.J.L253,11.10.93,p1.

Penalty for contravention of a relevant export ruleU.K.

3.—(1) If a person engages in any conduct by which he contravenes a relevant export rule specified he shall be liable to a penalty under this regulation.

(2) The Schedule to these regulations shall have effect.

(3) Column 1 of the Schedule specifies a relevant export rule a contravention of which gives rise to a penalty under paragraph (1) above.

(4) Column 2 of the Schedule specifies the person whose conduct in contravening a relevant export rule gives rise to liability under paragraph (1) above.

(5) Column 3 of the Schedule specifies the maximum penalty for contravention of a relevant export rule for which a person is liable under paragraph (1) above.

Exceptions from regulation 3U.K.

4.—(1) A person is not liable to a penalty under regulation 3 if he satisfies—

(a)the Commissioners, or

(b)on appeal, an appeal tribunal,

that there is a reasonable excuse for his conduct.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) above none of the following is a reasonable excuse—

(a)An insufficiency of funds available to any person for paying any penalty due;

(b)That reliance was placed by any person on another to perform any task;

(c)That the contravention is attributable, in whole or in part, to the conduct of a person on whom reliance to perform any task was so placed.

(3) Where, by reason of conduct falling within regulation 3(1) a person is prosecuted for an offence that conduct does not also give rise to liability to a penalty.

Reduction of penalty under regulation 3U.K.

5.—(1) Where a person is liable to a penalty under regulation 3—

(a)the Commissioners (whether originally or on review) or, on appeal, an appeal tribunal may reduce the penalty to such amount (including nil) as they think proper; and

(b)the Commissioners on a review, or an appeal tribunal on an appeal, relating to a penalty reduced by the Commissioners under this regulation may cancel the whole or any part of the reduction previously made by the Commissioners.

(2) In exercising their powers under paragraph (1) above, neither the Commissioners nor an appeal tribunal are entitled to take into account any of the matters specified in paragraph (3) below.

(3) Those matters are—

(a)The insufficiency of the funds available to any person for paying the amount of the penalty,

(b)The fact that the person liable to the penalty, or a person acting on his behalf, has acted in good faith.

Demands for penaltiesU.K.

6.—(1) Where a person is liable to a penalty under regulation 3, the Commissioners may give to that person or his representative a notice in writing (a “demand notice”) demanding payment of the amount due by way of penalty.

(2) An amount demanded as due from a person or his representative in accordance with subsection (1) is recoverable as if it were an amount due from the person or, as the case may be, the representative as an amount of customs duty.

This paragraph is subject to—

(a)

any appeal under regulation [F59] (appeals to tribunal); and

(b)

paragraph (3) below.

(3) An amount so demanded is not recoverable if or to the extent that—

(a)The demand has subsequently been withdrawn; or

(b)The amount has been reduced under regulation 5.

Time limits for demands for penaltiesU.K.

7.—(1) A demand notice may not be given in relation to a penalty under regulation 3 more than 3 years after the conduct giving rise to the penalty ceased.

(2) A demand notice may not be given more than 2 years after there has come to the knowledge of the Commissioners evidence of facts sufficient in the opinion of the Commissioners to justify the giving of the demand notice.

(3) A demand notice may be given in respect of a penalty under regulation 3 to which a person was liable immediately before his death.

No prosecution after demand notice for penalty under regulation 3U.K.

8.—(1) Where a demand notice is given demanding payment of an amount due by way of penalty under regulation 3 in respect of any conduct of a person, no proceedings may be brought against that person for any offence constituted by that conduct (whether or not the demand notice is subsequently withdrawn).

[F6Right to appeal against certain decisions]U.K.

9.—(1) If [F7HMRC] give a person or his representative a notice informing him—

(a)that [F8HMRC] have decided that the person has engaged in conduct by which he contravenes a relevant export rule, and

(b)that the person is, in consequence, liable to a penalty under regulation 3, but

(c)that [F9HMRC] do not propose to give a demand notice in respect of the penalty,

the person or his representative may [F10make an appeal to the appeal tribunal in respect of] the decision mentioned in sub-paragraph(a) above.

(2) Where [F11HMRC] give a demand notice to a person or his representative, the person or his representative may [F12make an appeal to the appeal tribunal in respect of]

(a)their decision that the person is liable to a penalty under regulation 3, or

(b)their decision as to the amount of the liability.

[F13(3) The powers of the appeal tribunal on an appeal under this regulation include—

(a)power to quash or vary a decision; and

(b)power to substitute the tribunal’s own decision for any decision so quashed.

(4) On an appeal under this regulation—

(a)the burden of proof as to the matters mentioned in regulation 3(1) lies on HMRC; but

(b)it is otherwise for the appellant to show that the grounds on which any such appeal is brought have been established.]

Textual Amendments

[F14Offer of reviewU.K.

9A.(1) HMRC must offer a person (P) a review of a decision that has been notified to P if an appeal lies under regulation 9 in respect of the decision.

(2) The offer of the review must be made by notice given to P at the same time as the decision is notified to P.

(3) This regulation does not apply to the notification of the conclusions of a review.]

[F14Review by HMRCU.K.

9B.(1) HMRC must review a decision if—

(a)they have offered a review of the decision under regulation 9A, and

(b)P notifies HMRC accepting the offer within 30 days from the date of the document containing the notification of the offer.

(2) But P may not notify acceptance of the offer if P has already appealed to the appeal tribunal under regulation 9F.

(3) HMRC shall not review a decision if P has appealed to the appeal tribunal under regulation 9F in respect of the decision.]

[F14Extensions of timeU.K.

9C.(1) If under regulation 9A, HMRC have offered P a review of a decision, HMRC may within the relevant period notify P that the relevant period is extended.

(2) If notice is given the relevant period is extended to the end of 30 days from—

(a)the date of the notice, or

(b)any other date set out in the notice or a further notice.

(3) In this regulation “relevant period” means—

(a)the period of 30 days referred to in regulation 9B(1)(b), or

(b)if notice has been given under paragraph (1) that period as extended (or as most recently extended) in accordance with paragraph (2).]

[F14Review out of timeU.K.

9D.(1) This regulation applies if—

(a)HMRC have offered a review of a decision under regulation 9A, and

(b)P does not accept the offer within the time allowed under regulation 9B(1)(b) or 9C(2).

(2) HMRC must review the decision under regulation 9B if—

(a)after the time allowed, P notifies HMRC in writing requesting a review out of time,

(b)HMRC are satisfied that P had a reasonable excuse for not accepting the offer or requiring review within the time allowed, and

(c)HMRC are satisfied that P made the request without unreasonable delay after the excuse had ceased to apply.

(3) HMRC shall not review a decision if P has appealed to the appeal tribunal under regulation 9F in respect of the decision.]

[F14Nature of review etcU.K.

9E.(1) This regulation applies if HMRC are required to undertake a review under regulation 9B or 9D.

(2) The nature and extent of the review are to be such as appear appropriate to HMRC in the circumstances.

(3) For the purpose of paragraph (2), HMRC must, in particular, have regard to steps taken before the beginning of the review—

(a)by HMRC in reaching the decision, and

(b)by any person in seeking to resolve disagreement about the decision.

(4) The review must take account of any representations made by P at a stage which gives HMRC a reasonable opportunity to consider them.

(5) The review may conclude that the decision is to be—

(a)upheld,

(b)varied, or

(c)cancelled.

(6) HMRC must give P notice of the conclusions of the review and their reasoning within—

(a)a period of 45 days beginning with the relevant date, or

(b)such other period as HMRC and P may agree.

(7) In paragraph (6) “relevant date” means—

(a)the date HMRC received P’s notification accepting the offer of a review (in a case falling within regulation 9A), or

(b)the date on which HMRC decided to undertake the review (in a case falling within regulation 9D).

(8) Where HMRC are required to undertake a review but do not give notice of the conclusions within the time period specified in paragraph (6), the review is to be treated as having concluded that the decision is upheld.

(9) If paragraph (8) applies HMRC must notify P of the conclusion which the review is treated as having reached.]

[F14Bringing of appealsU.K.

9F.(1) An appeal under regulation 9 is to be made to the appeal tribunal before—

(a)the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the date of the document notifying the decision to which the appeal relates, or

(b)if later, the end of the relevant period (within the meaning of regulation 9C).

(2) But that is subject to paragraphs (3) to (5).

(3) In a case where HMRC are required to undertake a review under regulation 9B—

(a)an appeal may not be made until the conclusion date, and

(b)any appeal is to be made within the period of 30 days beginning with the conclusion date.

(4) In a case where HMRC are requested to undertake a review in accordance with regulation 9D—

(a)an appeal may not be made—

(i)unless HMRC have decided whether or not to undertake a review, and

(ii)if HMRC decide to undertake a review, until the conclusion date; and

(b)any appeal is to be made within the period of 30 days beginning with—

(i)the conclusion date (if HMRC decide to undertake a review), or

(ii)the date on which HMRC decide not to undertake a review.

(5) In a case where regulation 9E(8) applies, an appeal may be made at any time from the end of the period specified in regulation 9E(6) to the date 30 days after the conclusion date.

(6) An appeal may be made after the end of the period specified in paragraph (1), (3)(b), (4)(b) or (5) if the appeal tribunal gives permission to do so.

(7) In this regulation “conclusion date” means the date of the document notifying the conclusions of the review.]

Time limit and right to further reviewU.K.

F1510.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Powers of the Commissioners on a reviewU.K.

F1511.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Appeals to a tribunalU.K.

F1512.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Appeal TribunalsU.K.

[F1613.  Section 85 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 (c. 23) (settling of appeals by agreement) has effect as if the reference to section 83 of that Act included a reference to regulation 9 above.]

Service of noticesU.K.

14.  Any notice to be given to any person for the purposes of these Regulations may be given by sending it by post in a letter addressed to that person or his representative at the last or usual residence or place of business of that person or representative.

Ray McAfee

Commissioner of Customs and Excise

SCHEDULEU.K.

Column 1Column 2Column 3
Relevant Export RuleDescription of Person liableMaximum Penalty

Article 161(2) of the Code

All Community goods intended for export to be placed under the export procedure, except goods to be placed under the outward processing procedure or transit procedure.

Any person intending to send goods outside the [F17European Union].£1000

Article 183 of the Code And Articles 793 M6, 794 and 795 of the Implementing Regulation

Goods leaving the customs territory of the [F17European Union] subject to customs supervision shall:

The exporter.£2500

(a)be presented to customs authorities in accordance with the provisions in force in order that checks may be carried out; and

Approved exporter.£2500

(b)leave the territory of the [F17European Union] using, where appropriate, the route determined by the customs authorities.

Any person.£2500

Articles 59(1) of the Code

Goods shall be covered by a declaration for the customs procedure of export.

A person who is able to present the goods in question or to have them presented to the competent customs authority together with all the documents required to be produced.
 A specific person (where acceptance of a declaration imposes particular obligations on that person).£1000
 By an agent on his behalf.£1000
 By a direct agent in the case of a specific person.£1000

Article 59(2) of the Code

Community goods declared for export subject to customs supervision from acceptance of the declaration until they leave the customs territory of the [F17European Union].

The declarant.

The exporter.

£1000

£1000

Article 62 of the Code and Article 199 of the Implementing Regulation M7 and Sections 167(3) 168(1) of the Act

Declarations shall be:

(a)made on a form corresponding to the official specimen prescribed for the purpose;

Any person who is able to present the goods in question together with the documents required for the application of the rules governing the procedure.£2500

(b)signed and contain all the particulars necessary for implementation of the provisions of the customs procedure for export; and

A specific person (where acceptance of a declaration imposes particular obligations on that specific person).£2500

(c)be accompanied by all the documents required for implementation of the customs procedure of export.

By an agent on his behalf.

By a direct agent in the case of a specific person.

£2500

£2500

Article 161(5) of the Code and Articles 789 and 790 of the Implementing Regulation

Export declaration to be lodged at:

The customs office responsible for supervising:

Any person who is able to present the goods in question together with the documents required for the application of the rules governing the procedure.£1000

(a)the place where the exporter is established; or

(b)the place where the goods are packed or loaded for export shipment; or

A specific person (where acceptance of the declaration imposes particular obligations on that specific person).£1000

(c)the place where the sub-contractor is established (as permitted pursuant to Article 789); and, any customs office competent for the operation in question (permitted pursuant to Article 790).

By an agent on his behalf.

By a direct agent in the case of a specific person.

£1000

£1000

Article 793 M8 of the Implementing Regulation

Goods released for export to be presented at the customs office of exit together with copy three of the Single Administrative Document.

The exporter.£1000
 Any person who is able to present the goods in question together with the documents required for the application of the rules governing the procedure.£1000
 A specific person (where acceptance of the declaration imposes particular obligations on that specific person).£1000
 By an agent on his behalf.£1000
 By a direct agent in the case of a specific person.£1000

Article 795 of the Implementing Regulation

Declaration for export to be lodged retrospectively by the exporter at the competent customs office where goods leave the customs territory of the [F17European Union] without an export declaration.

The exporter.£1000
 Any person who is able to present the goods in question together with the documents required for the application of the rules governing the procedure.£1000
 A specific person (where acceptance of the declaration imposes particular obligations on that specific person).£1000
 By an agent on his behalf.£1000
 By a direct agent in the case of a specific person 

Article 796 of the Implementing Regulation

The exporter to immediately inform the customs office of Export and return copy 3 of the export declaration where goods released for export do not leave the customs territory of the [F17European Union].

The exporter.

Any person who is able to present the goods in question together with the documents required for the application of the rules governing the procedure.

£1000

£1000

 A specific person (where acceptance of the declaration imposes particular obligations on that specific person).£1000
 By an agent on his behalf.£1000
 By a direct agent in the case of a specific person.£1000

Article 798 of the Implementing Regulation

Export declaration in the specified form to be presented to the customs office of export where goods which left the customs territory of the [F17European Union] under cover of an ATA carnet are no longer intended to be re-imported.

The exporter.

Any person who is able to present the goods in question together with the documents required for the application of the rules governing the procedure.

£1000

£1000

 A specific person (where acceptance of the declaration imposes particular obligations on that specific person).£1000
 By an agent on his behalf.£1000
 By a direct agent in the case of a specific person.£1000

Article 162 of the Code

Condition that goods granted release for export leave the customs territory of the [F17European Union] in the same condition as when the export declaration was accepted.

The exporter.£1000
Simplified Procedure

Articles 6 and 7 and 76 of the Code and Articles 282 and 261 and 262 of the Implementing Regulation

To comply with a condition of an immediately enforceable binding decision of the customs authorities, in respect of an authorisation to make the declaration for export in a simplified form.

The exporter.

The person authorised.

£2500

£2500

Local Clearance

Articles 283, 284 and 264 of the Implementing Regulation

Maintain records sufficient to enable the customs authority to carry out effective checks, in particular, retrospective checks.

Approved exporter.£2500

Articles 6 and 7 of the Code and Articles 283, 286 and 287 of the Implementing Regulation

To comply with a condition of an immediately enforceable binding decision of the customs authorities, in respect of an authorisation referred to in Article 283 of the Implementing Regulation.

Approved exporter.£2500

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

M6Paragraph 3 was amended by Commission Regulation (EC) 3254/94, O.J. L346, 31.12.1994 p1.

M7Amended by Commission Regulation (EC) 3665/93, O.J. L335, 31.12.1993 p1.

M8Paragraph 3 was amended by Commission Regulation (EC) 3214/98, O.J.L. 346, 31.12. p1.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which come into effect on 23rd December 2003, are made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972. They enable Customs to charge civil penalties for contraventions of customs rules relating to exports.

Regulation 3 gives effect to the schedule. In that schedule;

Column 1 specifies the customs rules where contravention incurs liability to a penalty,

Column 2 specifies for each specified customs rule the person or persons who may be liable to a penalty,

Column 3 specifies the maximum penalty that may be incurred for the contravention of each specified rule.

Regulation 4 provides that there is no liability to penalty where a person has a reasonable excuse.

Regulation 5 gives power to the Commissioners, or on appeal an appeal tribunal, to reduce a penalty.

Regulation 6 provides for the issue of a demand notice and that the amount of penalty so demanded may be recovered as customs duty.

Regulation 7 imposes a time bar of 3 years on the issue of a demand notice, or 2 years from the time when sufficient evidence came to the knowledge of the Commissioners.

Regulation 8 provides that where a demand notice has been given, that person may not also be prosecuted in respect of the same conduct.

Regulations 9 to 13 set out the arrangements for reviewing decisions and for appeals to tribunals.

Regulation 14 sets out the arrangements for the service of notice.

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