The Import of Seal Skins Regulations 1996

• Citation: S.I. 1996/2686
• Sections: 4

Section 1 Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Import of Seal Skins Regulations 1996 and shall come into force on 15th November 1996.

Section 2 Prohibition of import of certain seal skins

(1) Subject to paragraph (3) below, the commercial importation of any of the following is hereby prohibited–

(a) raw, tanned or dressed furskins of relevant seals (including furskins of such seals assembled in plates, crosses or similar forms), and

(b) articles made wholly or partly of furskins of relevant seals.

(2) In paragraph (1) above “relevant seals” means–

(a) whitecoat pups of the species Phoca (Pagophilus) groenlandica (harp seal), or

(b) pups of the species Cystophora cristata (hooded seal).

(3) This regulation does not apply to products resulting from traditional hunting by the Inuit people.

Section 3 Forfeiture of items unlawfully imported

Where an item to which regulation 2 applies is being or has been imported, a person commissioned by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise or a person authorised by them may require any person possessing or having control of the item to furnish proof that its importation is or was not unlawful by virtue of that regulation; and if such proof is not furnished to the satisfaction of the said Commissioners the item shall be liable to forfeiture under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 .

Section 4 Penalties

(1) In section 50 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (Penalty for improper importation of goods)–

(a) in subsection (4) for the words “5 or (5A)” there shall be substituted the words “(5), (5A) or (5B)”, and

(b) after subsection (5A) there shall be inserted the following subsection–

(5B) In the case of an offence under subsection (2) or (3) above in connection with the prohibition contained in regulation 2 of the Import of Seal Skins Regulations 1996, subsection (4) above shall have effect as if–

(a) for paragraph (a) there were substituted the following–

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to both

(b) in paragraph (b) for the words “7 years” there were substituted the words “2 years”.

(2) In section 170 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (Penalty for fraudulent evasion of duty, etc. )–

(a) in subsection (3) for the words “4 or (4A)” there shall be substituted the words “(4), (4A) or (4B)”, and

(b) after subsection (4A) there shall be inserted the following subsection–

(4B) In the case of an offence under subsection (1) or (2) above in connection with the prohibition contained in regulation 2 of the Import of Seal Skins Regulations 1996, subsection (3) above shall have effect as if–

(a) for paragraph (a) there were substituted the following–

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to both

(b) in paragraph (b) for the words “7 years” there were substituted the words “2 years”.