Importers face duty risk over Israeli goods
Importers are facing demands for duty payments after failing to ensure that their goods do not come from Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.
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A warning has now been issued by economic secretary John Healey who told the House of Commons in a written statement that importers must be clear that preferential, or zero, rates of duty are only permitted for goods originating in the state of Israel ? not from settlements established after 1967.
Customs is now taking steps to identify goods that may have come from occupied territory and seeking assurances from the Israeli authorities as to origin.
Healey said the Israeli authorities are issuing a standard reply, which fails to answer the question directly and is insufficient in determining whether or not the goods qualify.
Customs is now issuing duty demands to UK importers, after a ten-month deadline for assurances, where there is grounds to suspect the goods came from Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, he said.