RIYADH — The competent authorities of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have recently approved a number of amendments to the GCC Unified Customs Law, Okaz/Saudi Gazette has learned from sources. According to the amended provisions of the law, the import of counterfeit goods will be deemed as smuggling activity and punitive measures will be taken accordingly. The penalties for smugglers include a fine of not less than two times and not more than three times of the customs duty or tax of the product, or two times of the value of the goods whichever is higher, and imprisonment for a period of not less than one month and not more than one year, or of both the penalties. According to the new amendments, there will be customs duty exemption for the following categories of goods: those goods required by the charitable societies; goods imported by people with special needs, the concerned government agencies, and agencies related to the care of people with special needs, in addition to relief supplies. Customs duties will also be exempted for commercial samples imported to the GCC countries whose value does not exceed SR5,000 or its equivalent in other GCC currencies. The Customs director general may set conditions and controls to ensure that the exemption is not exploited for commercial purposes. The duty-exempted goods also include incoming personal parcels and mails, in accordance with the terms and conditions specified by the executive regulations, with the exception of tobacco and its derivatives. There is also a provision in the amended law that the truck driver shall produce proof of delivery of the imported goods to their owners upon his departure from the country. It is also not permissible to demand the payment of customs duties in the event of losing the goods, while it allows prior customs clearance of the goods before they reach the customs office.
