Article 55 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 55 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الفصل الثاني: معاينة البضائع
The department may open packages where it suspects prohibited goods or a mismatch with the documents, in the absence of an owner who refuses to attend despite being notified, and where necessary before notifying him, through a committee formed by the Director General.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للدائرة الجمركية الحق في فتح الطرود لمعاينتها عند الاشتباه بوجود بضائع ممنوعة أو مخالفة لما هو وارد في الوثائق الجمركية في غياب مالك البضاعة، أو من يمثله، إذا امتنع عن حضور المعاينة في الوقت المحدد رغم إبلاغه ، وعند الضرورة تجري الدائرة الجمركية المعاينة قبل تبليغ مالك البضاعة أو من يمثله من قبل لجنة تشكل لهذا الغرض بقرار من المدير العام ، وتحرر محضرا بنتيجة المعاينة .
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 55 explained in plain English
This article is an exception to the rule that the owner attends inspection, and gives the customs department the right to open packages to inspect them in specific cases.
A basic condition: There must be suspicion of prohibited goods, or goods that do not match what is stated in the customs documents.
Two cases:
- The owner refuses: Packages are opened in the absence of the owner or his representative if he refuses to attend the inspection at the set time despite being notified.
- Necessity: In case of necessity, the department carries out the inspection before notifying the owner or his representative, through a committee formed by decision of the Director General.
Documentation: The department draws up a report of the inspection result.
Opening without the owner's presence is therefore not always available: it requires suspicion, and then either refusal after notice or necessity with a committee formed for the purpose. The article does not define necessity. This article is linked to Article 54, which makes it the rule that inspection takes place only in the owner's presence. Article 56 also permits goods to be analyzed by the competent bodies. Anyone whose packages were opened in his absence and who objects to the result would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in customs and commercial matters.
Practical example
A trader in Dammam was notified of the date for inspecting a shipment that Customs suspected contained prohibited materials, and did not attend. The department may open the packages and inspect them in his absence, and draws up a report of the result.
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 55 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
May Customs open my packages without my being present?
Yes, where there is suspicion of prohibited goods or a mismatch with the documents, if you refuse to attend despite being notified, or in case of necessity through a committee formed by the Director General.
Does Customs document the inspection result in my absence?
Yes. The customs department draws up a report of the inspection result.
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.