Introduction Background Note
6.This measure has been introduced to provide for a customs civil penalty, in cases where there is no allegation of dishonest conduct, when goods are wrongfully imported from a non-EU country.
7.HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will provide for the issue of a customs civil penalty to travellers entering the UK from outside the EU who have failed to declare goods in excess of their allowance when stopped before clearing customs controls. This penalty will be used in cases where we find there is no dishonest conduct, as an alternative to existing customs civil evasion penalties and existing criminal penalties, for use in the case of less serious contraventions, and to allow us more flexibility in our treatment of customers. As with all customs civil penalties there will be strict liability subject to reasonable excuse.