Article 52 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 52 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الفصل الثاني: معاينة البضائع
The competent employee inspects the goods, in whole or in part, after the customs declarations are registered, under the instructions issued by the Director.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقوم الموظف المختص بمعاينة البضائع كليا أو جزئيا بعد تسجيل البيانات الجمركية حسب التعليمات التي يصدرها المدير .
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 52 explained in plain English
This article begins the provisions on inspecting goods, that is, examining them to verify that they match what is stated in the customs declaration.
- Who inspects: The competent employee in the customs department.
- When: After the customs declarations are registered; inspection follows registration.
- Scope of inspection: It may be total, covering all the goods, or partial, limited to part of them.
- The reference: The instructions issued by the Director, which determine when inspection is total or partial and how it is carried out; the article does not state their details.
The owner of the goods therefore has no right to insist on a partial inspection or to refuse a total one, because the matter depends on the Director's instructions. Article 53 sets out the place of inspection: it takes place in the customs department, and in some cases it is allowed outside it under rules of the Director General, and the costs of moving the goods, opening packages and repackaging fall on the owner. Article 51 also bars anyone other than owners of goods from viewing customs declarations.
Anyone who objects to the way an inspection was carried out or its result would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in customs and commercial matters.
Practical example
A clothing importer in Jeddah registered a customs declaration for a shipment of 50 cartons. The competent employee may decide to inspect only some of the cartons, or all of them, according to the instructions issued by the head of the department.
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 52 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
When does Customs inspect the goods?
After the customs declarations are registered.
Does Customs examine the whole shipment?
Inspection may be total or partial, according to the instructions issued by the Director.
More articles on Customs Declaration and Inspection of Goods
- Article 46
The article gives the customs administration the right to use electronic exchange of information in customs clearance.
للإدارة الحق باستخدام تبادل المعلومات إلكترونيا بالتخليص الجمركي.
- Article 47
A detailed customs declaration must be submitted when clearing any goods, even if exempt from duties, in the forms approved in the GCC states.
يجب أن يقدم للدائرة الجمركية عند تخليص أي بضاعة - ولو كانت معفاة من الضرائب "الرسوم" الجمركية - بيان جمركي تفصيلي وفقا للنماذج المعتمدة في إطار دول المجلس يتضمن
- Article 48
The Director General specifies the documents attached to the customs declaration and their content, and may allow clearance without some of them against cash or bank guarantees or a written undertaking, subject to Article 27(1).
مع مراعاة ما ورد في الفقرة "1" من المادة (27) من هذا النظام "القانون" يحدد المدير العام الوثائق التي يجب أن ترفق مع البيانات الجمركية والمعلومات التي يجب أن تتض
- Article 49
A customs declaration may not be amended after it is registered; its submitter may ask the Director in writing to correct it before the declaration is referred for inspection.
لا يجوز تعديل ما ورد في البيانات الجمركية بعد تسجيلها ، ولمقدم البيان الجمركي أن يتقدم للمدير بطلب خطي للتصحيح قبل إحالة البيان الجمركي للمعاينة.
- Article 50
Owners of goods or their representatives may view them before submitting the declaration and take samples with the Director's permission and under the department's supervision, and samples are subject to the prescribed duties.
يجوز لأصحاب البضائع أو من يمثلهم الاطلاع على بضائعهم قبل تقديم البيان الجمركي وأخذ عينات منها عند الاقتضاء، وذلك بعد الحصول على إذن من المدير وتحت إشراف الدائرة
- Article 51
The article limits access to customs declarations and documents to owners of goods or their representatives, with an exception for the competent judicial or official bodies.
لا يجوز لغير أصحاب البضائع أو من يمثلهم الاطلاع على البيانات والمستندات الجمركية، وتستثنى من ذلك الجهات القضائية أو الرسمية 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.