The Postal Services Act 2000 (Consequential Modifications No. 1) Order 2001

Postal Packets (Customs and Excise) Regulations 1986

66.—(1) The Postal Packets (Customs and Excise) Regulations 1986(1) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2—

(a)after the definition of “exporter” and “importer” are inserted—

““post office”, “postal operator” and “registered post service” have the same meaning as in the Postal Services Act 2000;

“postal packet” means a letter, parcel, packet or other article transmissible by post, conveyed by a universal service provider (within the meaning of the Postal Services Act 2000) in connection with the provision of a universal postal service (within the meaning of that Act);” and

(b)in the definition of “proper”, for the words “Post Office” are substituted the words “postal operator”.

(3) In regulation 6 after the word “except” are inserted the words “in a postal packet.”.

(4) For regulation 7 is substituted the following—

“7.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (6) below, every postal packet brought into the United Kingdom containing dutiable goods shall have affixed to it, or be accompanied by, a customs declaration fully stating the nature, quantity and value of the goods which it contains or of which it consists, and such other particulars as the Commissioners or the postal operator may require.

(2) The Commissioners may, at the request of the postal operator, relax the requirements of paragraph (1) above by allowing the bringing in by post into the United Kingdom of any number of postal packets accompanied by a single customs declaration containing the particulars described in paragraph (1) above if they are brought in together, sent by or on behalf of the same person and addressed to a single addressee.

(3) Subject to paragraph (5) below, every postal packet brought into the United Kingdom the value of which exceeds £270, shall in additional to the requirements contained in paragraph (1) above, bear on the outside the top portion of a green label in the prescribed form.

(4) Subject to paragraph (6) below, every postal packet brought into the United Kingdom the value of which does not exceed £270, shall either—

(a)bear on the outside a green label in the prescribed form, in which the declaration as to the description, net weight and value of the contents shall be fully and correctly completed; or

(b)bear on the outside the top portion of a green label in the prescribed form and, in addition, have attached to it a full and correct customs declaration of the kind prescribed in paragraph (1) above.

(5) Any postal packet falling within paragraph (3) above which contains any article of value and is brought into the United Kingdom by a registered post service, may have the customs declaration referred to in paragraph (3) above enclosed in it.

(6) Any postal packet falling within paragraph (4) above which contains any article of value and is brought into the United Kingdom by registered post service, may have the customs declaration referred to in paragraph (4)(b) above enclosed in it.”.

(5) For regulation 8 is substituted the following—

“8.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (6) below, every postal packet posted into the United Kingdom for transmission to any place outside it containing dutiable goods shall have affixed to it, or be accompanied by, a customs declaration fully stating the nature, quantity and value of the goods which it contains or of which it consists, and such other particulars as the Commissioners or the postal operator may require.

(2) The Commissioners may, at the request of the postal operator, relax the requirements of paragraph (1) above by allowing the exportation by post of any number of postal packets accompanied by a single customs declaration containing the particulars described in paragraph (1) above if they are brought in together, sent by or on behalf of the same person and addressed to a single addressee.

(3) Subject to paragraph (5) below every postal packet posted in the United Kingdom for transmission to any place outside it the value of which exceeds £270, shall bear on the outside the top portion of a green label in the prescribed form and, in addition, shall have attached to it, or, if the postal administration of the country of destination so requires, enclosed in it, a full and correct customs declaration of the kind described in paragraph (1) above.

(4) Subject to paragraph (6) below, every postal packet posted in the United Kingdom for transmission to any place outside it the value of which does not exceed £270, shall either—

(a)bear on the outside on the outside a green label in the prescribed form, in which the declaration as to the description, net weight and value of the contents shall be fully and correctly completed; or, if the sender so prefers,

(b)bear on the outside the top portion of a green label in the prescribed form and, in addition, have attached to it or, if the postal administration of the country of destination so requires, enclosed in it, a full and correct customs declaration of the kind prescribed in paragraph (1) above.

(5) Any postal packet falling within paragraph (3) above which contains any article of value and is exported by registered post service, may have the customs declaration referred to in paragraph (3) above enclosed in it if the sender so prefers.

(6) Any postal packet falling within paragraph (4) above which contains any article of value and is exported by registered post service may have the customs declaration referred to in paragraph (4)(b) above enclosed in it if the sender so prefers.”.

(6) For regulation 9(1) is substituted the following—

“9.—(1) Every mail bag containing postal packets containing or consisting of goods which are dutiable in the country of destination, brought by post into the United Kingdom or posted in the United Kingdom for transmission to any place outside it by a universal service provider (within the meaning of the Postal Services Act 2000) in connection with the provision of a universal postal service (within the meaning of that Act), shall have affixed to the bag label a green label in the prescribed form.”

(7) In regulations 11, 12 and 13 for the words “Post Office” are substituted the words “postal operator”.

(8) In regulation 14 for the words “Post Office” are substituted the words “postal operator”.

(9) In regulation 15 for the words “Post Office”, each time they appear, are substituted the words “postal operator”.

(10) In regulation 17 for the words “Post Office” are substituted the words “postal operator”.

(11) In regulation 18 for “the Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Scheme 1982, the Post Office Overseas Letter Post Scheme 1982 or the Post Office Inland Post Scheme 1979 which are applicable thereto” are substituted the words “the Postal Services Act 2000”.