Customs and Excise Management Act 1979

Changes over time for: Section 154

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Changes to legislation:

Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, Section 154 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 26 April 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.

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Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 154:

s. 154 applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2020/733 reg. 54(5)(6) (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)

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)