Article 56 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 56 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الفصل الثاني: معاينة البضائع
The department may have goods analyzed by the competent bodies, the Director may release them against guarantees until the result appears, and the Director General may order harmful or non-conforming goods destroyed at their owners' expense or re-exported.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
أ - للدائرة الجمركية الحق في تحليل البضائع لدى الجهات المختصة للتحقق من نوع البضاعة أو مواصفاتها أو مطابقتها لما تسمح به القوانين والأنظمة .
ب - تخضع البضائع التي يقتضي فسحها توافر شروط ومواصفات خاصة لإجراء التحليل أو المعاينة ، وللمدير حق الإفراج عنها لقاء الضمانات اللازمة التي تكفل عدم التصرف بها إلا بعد ظهور نتيجة التحليل .
ج - للمدير العام الأمر بإتلاف البضائع التي يثبت من المعاينة أو التحليل إنها مضرة أو غير مطابقة للمواصفات المعتمدة، ذلك على نفقة أصحابها وبحضورهم أو من يمثلهم ، ويعاد تصديرها إلى مصدرها إذا استوجب الأمر ذلك ، ويحرر بذلك المحضر اللازم .
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 56 explained in plain English
This article regulates the analysis of goods and the fate of those that do not conform in three paragraphs:
(a) The right to analyze: The customs department has the right to have goods analyzed by the competent bodies to verify the kind of goods, their specifications, or their conformity with what the laws and regulations permit.
(b) Goods with special conditions: Goods whose release requires special conditions and specifications are subject to analysis or inspection. The Director is entitled to release them against the necessary guarantees that ensure they are not disposed of until the analysis result appears.
(c) Destruction or re-export: If inspection or analysis shows that the goods are harmful or do not conform to the approved specifications:
- The Director General may order them destroyed at their owners' expense and in the presence of the owners or their representatives.
- They are re-exported to their source if the matter so requires.
- The necessary report is drawn up for this.
Release before the result is thus allowed but conditional on guarantees and on not disposing of the goods. Article 57 provides that duties are collected according to the declaration, or according to the inspection result if a difference appears. Article 55 permits packages to be opened on suspicion. Anyone ordered to destroy his goods would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in customs and commercial matters quickly.
Practical example
Customs asked for a cosmetics importer's shipment in Riyadh to be analyzed. The head of the department can release it against guarantees that it will not be sold until the result appears. If it is shown not to conform to the specifications, the Director General may order it destroyed at the importer's expense and in his presence.
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 56 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
Is Customs entitled to analyze my goods?
Yes, through the competent bodies, to verify their kind or specifications or their conformity with the laws and regulations.
Can I receive the goods before the analysis result appears?
The Director may release them against guarantees that they will not be disposed of until the result appears.
Who pays the cost of destroying non-conforming goods?
They are destroyed at their owners' expense and in the presence of the owners or their representatives.
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.