Article 54 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 54 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الفصل الثاني: معاينة البضائع
Inspection takes place only in the presence of the owner or his representative, and the article sets liability for shortages in package contents according to the packages' apparent condition on entering the warehouses.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا تجري المعاينة إلا بحضور مالك البضاعة أو من يمثله ، وعند ظهور نقص في محتويات الطرود تحدد المسؤولية بصدده على الشكل التالي :
1 - إذا كانت البضاعة قد دخلت المخازن الجمركية والمستودعات ضمن طرود بحالة ظاهرية سليمة يتأكد معها حدوث النقص في محتوياتها في بلد المصدر قبل الشحن؛ يصرف النظر عن ملاحقة هذا النقص .
2 - إذا كانت البضاعة الداخلة إلى المخازن الجمركية أو المستودعات ضمن طرود في حالة ظاهرية غير سليمة، وجب على الجهة المسؤولة عن هذه المخازن أو المستودعات أن تقوم مع الشركة الناقلة بإثبات هذه الحالة في محضر الاستلام والتحقق من وزنها ومحتوياتها وعددها . وعلى هذه الجهة أن تتخذ التدابير اللازمة لسلامة حفظها ، وتقع المسؤولية في هذه الحالة على الناقل ما لم يكن ثمة تحفظ على بيان الحمولة "المنافست" مؤشرا من جمرك بلد المصدر ، ويصرف النظر في هذه الحالة عن الملاحقة .
3 - إذا دخلت البضاعة ضمن طرود بحالة ظاهرية سليمة، ثم أصبحت موضع شبهة بعد دخولها المخازن الجمركية والمستودعات ، فتقع المسؤولية على الجهة المسؤولة عن المستودعات في حال وجود نقص أو تبديل .
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 54 explained in plain English
This article contains two rules:
First: presence at inspection. Inspection takes place only in the presence of the goods' owner or his representative. This guarantees his right to follow what is done to his goods.
Second: liability for shortages in the contents of packages, determined in three cases:
- Packages apparently sound, with the shortage arising in the country of export: If the packages entered the warehouses or depots in an apparently sound condition that makes it certain that the shortage occurred in the country of export before shipment, pursuit of the shortage is dropped.
- Packages not apparently sound: The body responsible for the warehouses or depots must record this condition with the carrying company in the receipt report, verify the weight, contents and number, and take measures to keep them safe. Liability lies with the carrier, unless a reservation was noted on the manifest by the customs of the country of export, in which case pursuit is dropped.
- Packages sound but later becoming suspect: If they entered sound and became suspect after entering the warehouses, liability for any shortage or substitution lies with the body responsible for the depots.
This is linked to Article 55, which permits the department to open packages in the owner's absence if he refuses to attend despite being notified, where there is suspicion. Anyone facing a dispute over a shortage in his goods would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in customs and commercial matters.
Practical example
A shipment of devices arrived at a warehouse in Jeddah with one box torn. The body responsible for the warehouse records its condition with the transport company in the receipt report, and if a shortage appears in its contents the carrier is liable for it, unless a reservation was noted on the manifest by the customs of the country of export.
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 54 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
Must I be present when my goods are inspected?
Inspection takes place only in the presence of the owner of the goods or his representative.
Who is liable if a package arrives damaged with a shortage?
This is recorded in the receipt report and liability lies with the carrier, unless a reservation was noted on the manifest by the customs of the country of export.
Who bears a shortage that occurs inside the warehouse?
If the packages entered sound and later became suspect, liability lies with the body responsible for the depots.
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.