Import licence changes

[techguy]

Interesting.. I asked for clarification on import licenses a couple of weeks back and had this in return:

This branch issues import licences for firearms, component parts thereof, ammunition and accessories designed or adapted to diminish the noise or flash caused by the firing of a weapon.

The Home Office Guidance on Firearms Licensing Law 2013 regarding component parts states:

“13.74 The term “component part” may be held (according to case law) as including (i) the barrel, chamber, cylinder, (ii) frame, body or receiver, (iii) breech, block, bolt or other mechanism for containing the charge at the rear of the chamber (iv), any other part of the firearm upon which the pressure caused by firing the weapon impinges directly. Magazines, sights and furniture are not considered component parts. The 9th report of the Firearms Consultative Committee provides additional information on this subject.”

This is detailed in the attached Notice to Importers.

Please therefore note that you will require an import licence for component parts as detailed above and you must hold the appropriate UK authorities to commercially acquire, possess and trade in them. The Police issue Certificates of Registration as a Firearms Dealer and if any of the component parts fall to Section 5 you will also require a Section 5 with the appropriate variation from the Home Office.

You will not need an import licence for parts that are not component parts.

[John MH]

Try the FAX below, amended as required in your particular case, it usually gets a response in a couple of days.

FOA: UK Border Agency 02476212812
Coventry International Hub

From: Windy Miller
Trumpton Mill
Trumpton
Trumptonshire
TT1 1TT

Tel: 0X2X3X3X4x

Parcel No: EC********GB

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am enquiring about a parcel that has been awaiting Customs Clearance since DD MMM YY. I have spoken with HMRC on 0845 010900 who informed me that it has been held awaiting inspection as it may contain Firearms Parts. The package is an order for two Telescopic Sight Mounts, four Rubber Sight Covers and two Rubber Grips, all from XZY in the USA. None of the parts are licensable or controlled under UK Law, however they are for rifles that I am authorized to possess under a Firearms Certificate Number XX/Y/********** issued by Trumptonshire Constabulary, they can be contacted on 0X2X5X6X7X if you need to confirm the details. Should you have any questions about the parcel please do not hesitate to call me on the number above.

Regards



Windy Miller

You could also email it to: postal.seizures@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

[artiglio]

Thanks for the replies gents

[Polchraine]

Go to: https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff/heading ... &year=2014

Under shotguns click Other

That brings up a page showing a little more. Click the Import and it comes up with a table. There is a line for H&SE with View Conditions. Click that and a pop-up comes up. That states Firearms and Ammunition.

You are not importing a Firearm or Ammunition, so how can that apply?

[phaedra1106]

As far as I can see the info they gave you refers to,

Section XIX
Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof

Nothing in there at all with regard to reloading equipment or tools (which is what you ordered, not reloading equipment).

I think someone has seen the words "parts and accessories thereof" and been somewhat over ambitious in their understanding of the meaning. Reloading equipment, tools etc. are not "parts and accessories thereof" of arms and ammunition.

[artiglio]

Phaedra

Hopefully you are correct, unfortunately the phrase "parts and accessories thereof" is very much a catch all. As per the contact details provided I've written the letter,sent it by email and will also fax it. I'll post response once I get it.

all the best phil

[DW58]

Please take note - there is a difference between detained and seized.

If an item is pending further enquiries it is usually detained, items are only seized if an offence has been committed or allowances have been exceeded and goods not declared.

In this case I would suspect that the goods have been detained pending enquiries to your entitlement. You previously didn't mention that you had actually got information via a tracking site or wherever that the good were actually with Customs, you appeared merely to be speculating. Had you posted the hard facts it would be easier to help/advise you in the first place.

Bearing in mind how keen the Government is on deadlines, I'm surprised you haven't been contacted by Border Force - I last worked in imports in 1986 and we worked to strict deadlines even then.

I can remember if you actually stated what the detained item(s) are? I have imported reloading components from the US within the timescale of your package and they came in without any problem. Is it a commercial importation or private?

[artiglio]

DW58

Apologies the original post was probably a bit too succinct. However over the last 2 weeks I've had so much contradictory advice and information from USPS/Customs/Parcel force it beggars belief. At various points I've been told it is pending further investigation and that it has been seized, actual contact with border force / customs at Coventry has been impossible, all you get is that your enquiry has been forwarded and someone will get back to you, which they don't. However with the contact information provided in this thread hopefully i'll get a response.
As you mention, the chap on the customs enquiry line was most surprised I'd received no contact one way or the other in 9 weeks.
Like yourself I've purchased many an item relating to reloading over the last few years and most only get stuck in customs a week or so, on two occasions the wrong import duty was applied but on appeal was refunded. All of it has been for my own use.
It must also be said that the HMRC helpline chap was most insistent that such items could well be regarded as requiring an import licence from 1st July, again hopefully this will prove to be an over enthusiastic opinion.
thanks for your info much appreciated.

regards phil

[DW58]

The only thing I can add is that ParcelFarce at the Coventry national hub are totally inefficient.

[Christel]

The only thing I can add is that ParcelFarce at the Coventry national hub are totally inefficient.

I second that, the last two weeks have been a total joke, I can't get anyone to phone me back despite talking to several people in several places. The national hub/local depot. Still waiting for someone to give me a ring to confirm that the address on the parcel in question is the correct one and if not that it has been or will be changed to the correct one.

Since the sender dispatched the parcel to the correct address, someone somewhere wrote down the wrong address for the parcel, customs charge has to be paid but we have not been sent the papers nor the reminder because they were sent to the wrong address. I can't pay it online or over the phone without having the address on the parcel confirmed. Sorta like catch22 isn't it and noone at parcelfarce seems to have a clue, still waiting for the local depot to call me and confirm the address on the parcel and meanwhile the clock is ticking, they keep the parcel for 21 days and then return it to the sender.

Unbelievable sign01