Search Legislation

Customs and Excise Management Act 1979

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Changes to legislation:

Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, Section 68 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 29 March 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 68:

  • s. 68(3)(b) amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 2019/600, reg. 54(1) by S.I. 2021/1146 reg. 32(a)
  • s. 68(3)(b) modified by S.I. 2020/733 reg. 55(1)(2) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Regulations revoked prospectively by S.I. 2020/1278, regs. 1(2), 66(4))

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

  • s. 95(1A)(1B) inserted by 2023 c. 30 s. 110(2)
  • s. 119(7) inserted by S.I. 2022/109 reg. 2(3)(f) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The affecting statutory instrument has no legal effect. It was made under a procedure which meant that it ceased to have effect 28 days after signing unless it was debated and approved in Parliament within that time. It was not debated and approved within 28 days, so it has expired with no effect.)
  • s. 160(2A) inserted by 2023 c. 30 Sch. 13 para. 26(3)

68 Offences in relation to exportation of prohibited or restricted goods. U.K.

(1)If any goods are—

(a)exported or shipped as stores; or

(b)brought to any place in the United Kingdom for the purpose of being exported or shipped as stores,

and the exportation or shipment is or would be contrary to any prohibition or restriction for the time being in force with respect to those goods under or by virtue of any enactment, the goods shall be liable to forfeiture and the exporter or intending exporter of the goods and any agent of his concerned in the exportation or shipment or intended exportation or shipment shall each be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of three times the value of the goods or [F1level 3 on the standard scale], whichever is the greater.

(2)Any person knowingly concerned in the exportation or shipment as stores, or in the attempted exportation or shipment as stores, of any goods with intent to evade any such prohibition or restriction as is mentioned in subsection (1) above shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection and may be detained.

(3)Subject to subsection (4) [F2, (4A) [F3, (4AA) ] or (4B)] below, a person guilty of an offence under subsection (2) above shall be liable—

(a)on summary conviction, to a penalty of [F4the prescribed sum][F4£20,000] or of three times the value of the goods, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both; or

(b)on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F57 years], or to both.

(4)In the case of an offence under subsection (2) above in connection with a prohibition or restriction on exportation having effect by virtue of section 3 of the M1Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, subsection (3) above shall have effect subject to the modifications specified in Schedule 1 to this Act.

[F6(4A)In the case of—

(a)an offence under subsection (2) F7... above committed in Great Britain in connection with a prohibition or restriction on the exportation of any weapon or ammunition that is of a kind mentioned in section 5(1)(a), (ab), (aba), (ac), (ad), (ae), (af)[F8, (ag), (ba)] or (c) or (1A)(a) of the Firearms Act 1968, [F9or]

(b)any such offence committed in Northern Ireland in connection with a prohibition or restriction on the exportation of any weapon or ammunition that is of a kind mentioned in [F10Article 6(1)(a), (ab), (ac), (ad), (ae) or (c) or (1A)(a)][F10Article 45(1)(a), [F11, (aa)] (b), (c), (d), (e)[F12, (ea), (fa)] or (g) or (2)(a)] of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order [F132004], F14...

F14(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

subsection (3)(b) above shall have effect [F15as if for the words “imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years” there were substituted the words “ imprisonment for life ”] .]

[F16(4AA)In the case of an offence under subsection (2) above committed in connection with the prohibition contained in section 21 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981, subsection (3)(b) above shall have effect as if for the words “7 years” there were substituted the words “ 10 years ”.]

[F17(4B)In the case of an offence under subsection (2) above in connection with a prohibition or restriction relating to the exportation or shipment as stores of nuclear material, subsection (3)(b) above shall have effect as if for the words “7 years” there were substituted the words “ 14 years ”.]

(5)If by virtue of any such restriction as is mentioned in subsection (1) above any goods may be exported only when consigned to a particular place or person and any goods so consigned are delivered to some other place or person, [F18the vehicle in which they were exported] shall be liable to forfeiture unless it is proved to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that [F19both the owner of the vehicle and the vehicle operator]

(a)took all reasonable steps to secure that the goods were delivered to the particular place to which or person to whom they were consigned; and

(b)did not connive at or, except under duress, consent to the delivery of the goods to that other place or person.

(6)In any case where a person would, apart from this subsection, be guilty of—

(a)an offence under subsection (1) or (2) above; and

(b)a corresponding offence under the enactment or instrument imposing the prohibition or restriction in question, being an offence for which a fine or other penalty is expressly provided by that enactment or other instrument,

he shall not be guilty of the offence mentioned in paragraph (a) of this subsection.

Textual Amendments

F1Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46 and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), ss. 289F, 289G and (N.I.) by S.I. 1984/703, (N.I. 3) arts. 5, 6

F7Words in s. 68(4A)(a) omitted (14.7.2014) by virtue of Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (c. 12), ss. 111(6)(a), 185(1) (with ss. 21, 33, 42, 58, 75, 93); S.I. 2014/949, art. 6(d)

F10Words in s. 68(4A)(b) substituted (N.I.) (1.2.2005) by The Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/702), art. 1(3), Sch. 7 para. 4 (with art. 81); S.R. 2005/4, art. 3 (with arts. 4-7)

F13Word in s. 68(4A)(b) substituted (N.I.) (1.2.2005) by The Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/702), art. 1(3), Sch. 7 para. 4 (with art. 81); S.R. 2005/4, art. 3 (with arts. 4-7)

F14S. 68(4A)(c) and word omitted (14.7.2014) by virtue of Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (c. 12), ss. 111(7)(c), 185(1) (with ss. 21, 33, 42, 58, 75, 93); S.I. 2014/949, art. 6(d)

F18Words in s. 68(5) 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. 70(a) (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)

F19Words in s. 68(5) 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. 70(b) (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)

C4S. 68(1)(3)(a)(b) modified by S.I. 1991/1285, reg. 6(a)-(c)

C6S. 68(2) excluded (1.3.1995) by S.I. 1995/271, reg. 11(1)

S. 68(2) excluded (15.11.1996) by S.I. 1996/2721, reg. 11(1)

S. 68(2) excluded (28.9.2000) by S.I. 2000/2620, reg. 11(1)

C14S. 68(3)(b) modified (6.4.2009) by The Export Control Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/3231), arts. 1, 42

C16S. 68(3)(b) modified (13.6.2011) by The Export Control (Iran) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1297), arts. 1, 13(4) (with art. 4)

C30S. 68(3)(b) modified by S.I. 2011/146, art. 2C(1) (as inserted (1.7.2020) by The Export Control (Somalia) (Amendment) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/572), arts. 1, 5)

Marginal Citations

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules as a PDF

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources