Seizure of goods by Border Force
The goods contained traces of alligator skin meaning they were seized under section 139 of the Customs & Excise Management Act 1979 as liable to forfeiture under section 49 (1) (b) as the required permits had not been obtained. This was contrary to the prohibition and restrictions imposed by the Convention on the International trade in Endangered Species (CITES) 1973 and specifically within the EU. Council Regulation 338/97.
It was an oversight by our client’s agent but we made a robust submission for restoration which included submissions on proportionality. The goods were released quickly and we also managed to recover our costs from our client’s agent.
The import or export of any item that requires a permit as required by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) 1973, is currently causing a great deal of confusion. The litigation team has dealt successfully with many cases where companies and individuals could potentially lose large sums of money as a consequence of seizures and failing to obtain the correct Import Permits before the goods have arrived in the UK.
Our detailed knowledge of CITES together with a thorough understanding of the system means we are able to act quickly and decisively to support our clients in getting goods restored.
*This article is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal or any other professional advice.