Article 179 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 179 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الباب السابع عشر: أحكام ختامية
After it comes into force, the Unified Customs Law replaces the customs regulations and laws in the Member States, within the limits of each State's constitutional rules and basic laws and without conflicting with them.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يحل النظام "القانون" الموحد للجمارك بدول المجلس بعد نفاذه محل الأنظمة والقوانين الجمركية المعمول بها في الدول الأعضاء ، وفي حدود القواعد والنظم الدستورية والأنظمة الأساسية المعمول بها في كل دولة ، وبما لا يتعارض معها.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 179 explained in plain English
This article specifies the relationship of the Unified Law to national customs regulations.
The rule: the Unified Customs Law of the Council States, after it comes into force, replaces the customs regulations and laws in force in the Member States.
The limit: this is within the limits of the constitutional rules and systems and the basic laws in force in each State, and without conflicting with them.
What this means:
- The Unified Law is the customs reference in each Member State after it comes into force, in place of the earlier national customs regulations.
- But it remains subject to the constitutional rules and basic laws of each State, and is not applied in a way that conflicts with them.
- The replacement concerns customs regulations and laws, and the article did not address non-customs regulations.
The article does not specify the date it comes into force, so one refers to the instrument by which the Law is issued in each State.
This is consistent with Article 178, which provides that the Implementing Regulations are approved by the Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee of the Council States and issued under the legal instrument of each State. Unification is achieved while respecting the particular legislative procedures of each State.
A person who needs to know which customs regulation applies to a particular matter would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in customs and commercial cases.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 179 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
Does the Unified Customs Law abolish the national customs regulations?
After it comes into force, it replaces the customs regulations and laws in force in the Member States, within the limits of each State's constitutional rules and basic laws.
Does the Unified Law apply if it conflicts with a State's Basic Law?
The article makes its replacement of customs regulations subject to not conflicting with the constitutional rules and basic laws of each State.
More articles on Customs Law Definitions and Scope
- Article 1
The article sets the name of the Law as the Unified Customs Law of the GCC States, referred to by the word "the Law".
يسمى هذا النظام "القانون" (نظام "قانون" الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية).
- Article 2
The article defines 42 terms in the Unified Customs Law, its explanatory memorandum and its implementing regulations, including the customs department, customs zone, tariff, customs declaration and customs clearance agent.
يكون للكلمات والعبارات التالية حيثما وردت في هذا النظام "القانون" ومذكرته الإيضاحية ولائحته التنفيذية ، المعاني الموضحة أمام كل منها ما لم يقتض السياق معنى آخر
- Article 3
The article provides that the customs law applies to lands under the state's sovereignty and its territorial waters, and allows free zones to be established to which the customs provisions do not apply in whole or in part.
تسري أحكام هذا النظام "القانون" على الأراضي الخاضعة لسيادة الدولة ومياهها الإقليمية، ويجوز أن تنشأ في هذه الأراضي مناطق حرة لا تسري عليها الأحكام الجمركية كليا
- Article 4
The article subjects every item of goods that crosses the customs line, whether entering or leaving, to the provisions of the Unified Customs Law.
تخضع كل بضاعة تجتاز الخط الجمركي في الإدخال أو في الإخراج لأحكام هذا النظام "القانون".
- Article 5
The article provides that the Directorate carries out its work in the customs department and the customs zone, and may exercise its powers across the state's lands and territorial waters under the conditions set in the Law.
تمارس الإدارة عملها في الدائرة الجمركية وفي النطاق الجمركي، ولها أيضا أن تمارس صلاحيتها على امتداد أراضي الدولة ومياهها الإقليمية وذلك ضمن الشروط المحددة في هذا
- Article 6
The article provides that customs departments are established and abolished by a decision of the Minister or the competent authority.
تنشأ الدوائر الجمركية وتلغى بقرار من الوزير أو الجهة المختصة.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.