2019 No. 15

Exiting The European Union
Excise

The Excise Duties (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2019

Made

Laid before Parliament

Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1

The Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs1 make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by—

a

section 93(1)(b), (c), (d), (2)(a), (da), (e), (ee), (fa), (3), 100G(1)(a) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 19792;

b

section 2(3), 13(1)(a), (b), 13(1A)(a), 15(6), 77(1)(a), (e) and (2) of, and paragraphs 1(1), 3(1), 4(1), (2)(a),(3), (4), (6) and 5(1) of Schedule 2A to, the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 19793;

c

section 20AA(1)(a), (2)(b), (c), 23C(2) and (3)(a) of the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 19794;

d

section 5(2) and (3) of the Finance Act 19955; and

e

section 52(2) and (5)(b) of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 20186.

The Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs consider it appropriate in consequence of, or otherwise in connection with, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, that the following Regulations come into force on such day as the Treasury may by regulations under section 52(2) of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 appoint, and to make the transitional and savings provisions contained in Part 3 of these Regulations.

PART 1Introductory provision

Citation and commencement1

These Regulations may be cited as the Excise Duties (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 and come into force on such day as the Treasury may by regulations under section 52(2) of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 appoint.

PART 2Amendments to miscellaneous regulations relating to excise duties

Amendment of the Excise Warehousing (Etc.) Regulations 19882

1

The Excise Warehousing (Etc.) Regulations 19887 are amended as follows.

2

In regulation 17 (removal from warehouse— documentary exceptions)—

a

omit paragraphs (7)(e) and (ea);

b

in paragraph (12), for the definition of “single administrative document”, substitute—

  • single administrative document” means the single administrative document provided for in a public notice made by the Commissioners8 under paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 20189;

Amendment of the Spirits Regulations 19913

1

The Spirits Regulations 199110 are amended as follows.

2

In regulation 18 (ascertainment of strength of spirits), for paragraph 1(c), substitute—

c

by a method set out in the Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2870/2000 of 19 December 2000, laying down Community reference methods for the analysis of spirits drinks, as it had effect in the United Kingdom immediately prior to exit day.

Amendment of the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties (Marine Voyages Reliefs) Regulations 19964

1

The Hydrocarbon Oil Duties (Marine Voyages Reliefs) Regulations 199611 are amended as follows.

2

In regulation 2 (interpretation), for the definition of “private pleasure craft”, substitute—

  • private pleasure craft” has the same meaning as in section 14E of the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 197912;

Amendment of the Warehousekeepers and Owners of Warehoused Goods Regulations 19995

1

The Warehousekeepers and Owners of Warehoused Goods Regulations 199913 are amended as follows.

2

Omit regulation 11(2)(aa) (privileges of an authorized warehousekeeper).

Amendment of the Excise Warehousing (Energy Products) Regulations 20046

1

The Excise Warehousing (Energy Products) Regulations 200414 are amended as follows.

2

In regulation 2 (interpretation), omit the definitions of “Community duty suspension arrangements” and “UK registered consignee”.

3

Omit regulation 3 (European Union imports).

4

In regulation 5 (treatment of warehoused special energy products)—

a

omit paragraph (1);

b

in paragraph (2), omit “(other than special energy product that falls within paragraph (1) above)”;

c

in paragraph (3), after “to which paragraph” omit “(1) or”;

d

omit paragraph (4)(c).

Amendment of the Denatured Alcohol Regulations 20057

1

The Denatured Alcohol Regulations 200515 are amended as follows.

2

In regulation 4 (classes of denatured alcohol)—

a

for paragraph (2), substitute—

2

Subject to paragraph (6), completely denatured alcohol is denatured alcohol that has been made in accordance with regulation 5.

b

for paragraph (3), substitute—

3

Subject to paragraph (6), industrial denatured alcohol is denatured alcohol that has been made in accordance with regulation 6.

c

omit paragraph (4);

d

in paragraph (6), omit the words from “that”, in the first place that it occurs, to “consumption”;

e

omit paragraph (7).

3

For regulation 18, substitute—

Importing and exporting denatured alcohol18

The Excise Goods (Holding, Movement and Duty Point) Regulations 201016 shall apply to imports and exports of denatured alcohol as if it were alcohol in respect of which excise duty has not been paid.

Amendment of the Duty Stamps Regulations 2006

8

The Duty Stamps Regulations 200617 are amended as follows.

9

In regulation 2 (interpretation)—

a

in paragraph (1)—

i

for the definition of “authorized warehousekeeper”, substitute—

  • “authorized warehousekeeper”, subject to paragraph (4), means an authorised warehousekeeper under regulation 3(1) of the Excise Goods (Holding, Movement and Duty Point) Regulations 2010;

ii

for the definition of “external territory”, substitute—

  • “external territory” means a territory for whose external relations the United Kingdom is responsible;

iii

in the definition of “irregular stamper”, omit “, other than a temporary registered consignee or unregistered commercial importer,”;

iv

omit the definition of “registered commercial importer”;

v

omit the definition of “tax representative”;

vi

for the definition of “tax warehouse”, substitute—

  • “tax warehouse” has the meaning given in regulation 3(1) of the Excise Goods (Holding, Movement and Duty Point) Regulations 2010;

vii

omit the definition of “temporary registered consignee”;

viii

omit the definition of “third country”;

ix

omit the definition of “UK registered consignee”;

x

omit the definition of “unregistered commercial importer”;

b

for paragraph (4)(b), substitute—

b

is, and is by law entitled to be, recognised by the authorities of the external territory in which it is established as representing the interests of those producers in that territory, and

10

In regulation 5 (conditions for obtaining type A stamps)—

a

for paragraph (3), substitute—

3

A registered person who is a registered owner is authorized if they are also an authorized warehousekeeper (or a person of equivalent status in an external territory), irregular stamper, compounder, a person who bottles alcoholic liquor in the United Kingdom, the holder of an excise licence under section 54(2) or 55(2) of the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979, or they do not have a fixed establishment in the United Kingdom or an external territory and they carry on a trade or business that consists of or includes distilling, manufacturing, or bottling, alcoholic liquor.

b

omit paragraph (4).

11

In regulation 6(3) (conditions for obtaining authority to affix type A stamps to retail containers), omit “who is not a temporary registered consignee or unregistered commercial importer and”.

12

In regulation 9(2)(e) (registration), omit “UK registered consignee,”.

13

In regulation 10 (disqualification from being registered)—

a

for paragraph (4), substitute—

4

A person is disqualified from being registered if they have a fixed establishment in the United Kingdom or an external territory, unless they are an authorized warehousekeeper (or a person of equivalent status in an external territory), irregular stamper, registered owner, compounder, a person who bottles alcoholic liquor in the United Kingdom, or the holder of an excise licence under section 54(2) or 55(2) of the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979.

b

in paragraph (5), for “European Union” substitute “United Kingdom”.

14

In regulation 14 (ordering and obtaining type A stamps)—

a

in paragraph (2)(f)(ii), for “an external territory or a third country” substitute “a place outside the United Kingdom”;

b

omit paragraphs (7) and (8).

15

In regulation 15 (receiving type A stamps)—

a

omit paragraph (2);

b

in paragraph (3), after “registered person” omit “, temporary registered consignee or unregistered commercial importer”;

c

omit paragraph (5).

16

Omit regulation 16(3) (returning type A stamps).

17

In paragraph (1) of regulation 19 (premises where duty stamps etc, may be affixed)—

a

in sub-paragraph (a), for “a third country” substitute “a place outside the United Kingdom that is not an external territory”;

b

omit sub-paragraph (c);

c

in sub-paragraph (d)—

i

at the end of paragraph (ii), insert “, or”;

ii

in paragraph (iii), for “an external territory or a third country” substitute “a place outside the United Kingdom”; and

iii

omit paragraph (iv).

18

In regulation 20 (times at which a retail container must be stamped)—

a

omit paragraph (1);

b

in paragraph (2), for “an external territory or third country” substitute “a place outside the United Kingdom”.

PART 3Transitional and saving provisions

Interpretation19

In this Part, “in the course of a movement on exit day” has the same meaning as in regulation 44(2) of the Excise Goods (Holding, Movement and Duty Point) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 201918.

The Excise Warehousing (Etc.) Regulations 198820

1

The amendments made by regulation 2 do not apply to excise goods that are in the course of a movement on exit day.

2

In this regulation, “excise goods” means goods subject to any excise duty, as that term is defined by section 49 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018.

The Warehousekeepers and Owners of Warehoused Goods Regulations 199921

1

Regulation 11(2)(aa) of the Principal Regulations continues to apply to goods that are in the course of a movement on exit day.

2

In this regulation, “the Principal Regulations” means the Warehousekeepers and Owners of Warehoused Goods Regulations 1999 as they have effect prior to the amendment made by regulation 5 of these Regulations.

The Denatured Alcohol Regulations 200522

1

The amendments made by regulation 7 have no effect in relation to—

a

denatured alcohol made before exit day;

b

denatured alcohol that has been incorporated before exit day into a product that is not for human consumption; or

c

denatured alcohol (whether made or incorporated) that is in the course of a movement on exit day.

2

In paragraph (1), references to denatured alcohol or to a product that is not for human consumption are to be construed according to the Denatured Alcohol Regulations 2005 as they have effect prior to the amendments made by regulation 7 of these Regulations.

The Duty Stamps Regulations 200623

1

The amendments made by regulations 8 to 18 have no effect in relation to retail containers of alcoholic liquor—

a

to which duty stamps are affixed before exit day; or

b

that are in the course of a movement on exit day.

2

In paragraph (1)—

a

“duty stamps” has the meaning given by paragraph 1(5) of Schedule 2A to the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979;

b

“retail containers of alcoholic liquor” is to be construed in accordance with the definition of “alcoholic liquor” in regulation 2(1) of the Duty Stamps Regulations 2006 and paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 2A to the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979.

Melissa TattonJim HarraTwo of the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make miscellaneous amendments to existing regulations relating to excise duty to address failures of retained EU law to operate effectively and other deficiencies arising on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (the “UK”) from the European Union (the “EU”) . “Excise duty” has the same meaning in this context as it has in Parts 4 and 5 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22).

The Excise Warehousing (Etc.) Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988/809) are amended so that the list of circumstances in which the accompanying document required by regulation 17(6) is not required is updated to reflect changes to excise and customs procedures that will occur as a result of the exit of the UK from the EU.

The Spirits Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/2564) are amended so that the existing methodology for ascertaining the strength of spirit drinks for excise duty purposes, which is drawn from the Annex to Commission Regulation EC No 2870/2000, will continue to function on and after exit day.

The Hydrocarbon Oil Duties (Marine Voyages Reliefs) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/2537) are amended by substituting a definition of “private pleasure craft” by reference to domestic legislation in place of the existing EU citation.

The Warehousekeepers and Owners of Warehoused Goods Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/1278) are amended by removing regulation 11(2)(aa), which permits authorized warehousekeepers to consign certain goods to EU Member states.

The Excise Warehousing (Energy Products) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2064) are amended by removing references to terms which are no longer required in respect of movements of special energy products on exit day. Those products are fuels that are not chargeable with duty in the UK, but which are nonetheless subject to excise controls.

The Denatured Alcohol Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1524) are amended to omit references to completely and partially denatured alcohol made in a member State other than the UK, and related citations. Those provisions are no longer required on and after exit day.

The Duty Stamps Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/202) are amended to omit or to replace a number of definitions and other provisions that will no longer be required on and after exit day or which will not function correctly, particularly those relating to categories of persons, EU legislative citations and to geographic descriptors.

These Regulations also make transitional and saving provision in respect of a number of the above regulations.

This instrument will be covered by an overarching HMRC impact assessment (second edition) which will be published on the website at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/customs-vat-and-excise-regulations-leaving-the-eu-with-no-deal.