Article 53 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 53 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الفصل الثاني: معاينة البضائع
Inspection takes place in the customs department and may take place outside it under the Director General's rules, its costs fall on the owner, and moving goods or entering warehouses without the department's approval is barred.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
أ - تجري معاينة البضائع في الدائرة الجمركية، ويسمح في بعض الحالات بإجرائها خارج هذه الدائرة وفقا للقواعد التي يحددها المدير العام.
ب - يكون نقل البضائع إلى مكان المعاينة وفتح الطرود وإعادة تغليفها وكل الأعمال الأخرى التي تقتضيها المعاينة؛ على نفقة مالك البضاعة، ويكون مسؤولا عنها حتى وصولها إلى مكان المعاينة .
ج - لا يجوز نقل البضائع التي وضعت في المخازن الجمركية أو في الأماكن المحددة للمعاينة دون موافقة الدائرة الجمركية .
د - يكون العاملون في نقل البضائع وتقديمها للمعاينة مقبولين من الدائرة الجمركية .
هـ - لا يجوز لأي شخص دخول المخازن والمستودعات الجمركية والحظائر والسقائف والساحات المعدة لتخزين البضائع أو إيداعها والأماكن المعدة للمعاينة دون موافقة الدائرة الجمركية .
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 53 explained in plain English
This article sets the practical rules for inspection in five paragraphs:
- (a) Place of inspection: It takes place in the customs department, and in some cases it is permitted outside it under rules set by the Director General.
- (b) Costs and responsibility: Moving the goods to the place of inspection, opening packages, repackaging them, and all other work that inspection requires, are at the expense of the goods' owner, who is responsible for them until they reach the place of inspection.
- (c) Ban on moving goods: Goods placed in customs warehouses or inspection places may not be moved without the customs department's approval.
- (d) Workers: Those who work in moving goods and presenting them for inspection must be acceptable to the customs department.
- (e) Ban on entry: No person may enter the customs warehouses and depots, the sheds, and the yards intended for storage or deposit, or the inspection places, without the customs department's approval.
Although inspection is a procedure carried out by Customs, its cost is borne by the owner. Article 54 follows to require the owner or his representative to be present at inspection and to set liability for shortages. Article 52 makes inspection follow registration of the declaration, total or partial, according to the Director's instructions. Anyone facing a dispute over inspection costs or damage to their goods would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in customs and commercial matters.
Practical example
A furniture importer in Dammam was asked to present his shipment for inspection. He bears the costs of moving it to the inspection place, opening the boxes and repackaging them, and he may not take it out of the customs warehouse without the department's approval.
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 53 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
Who bears the costs of customs inspection?
The owner of the goods, including moving them, opening packages, repackaging them and everything the inspection requires.
Can goods be inspected outside Customs?
This is permitted in some cases under the rules set by the Director General.
May anyone enter the customs warehouses?
No person may enter them without the approval of the customs department.
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.