Customs Diplomatic Privileges Regulations (C.R.C., c. 522)

Short Title

1 These Regulations may be cited as the Customs Diplomatic Privileges Regulations.

Interpretation

2 In these Regulations,

chief officer of customs

chief officer of customs, with respect to an area or place, means the manager of the customs office or customs offices that serve that area or place; (agent en chef des douanes)

collector

collector[Revoked, SOR/88-86, s. 1]

duty

duty or duties[Revoked, SOR/88-86, s. 1]

Deputy Minister

Deputy Minister means the Deputy Minister of National Revenue for Customs and Excise; (sous-ministre)

of career

of career means that persons so designated are nationals or citizens of the country they represent, and are not engaged in any business or profession other than their diplomatic or consular duties. (de carrière)

tax

tax or taxes[Revoked, SOR/88-86, s. 1]

Baggage Examination

3 [Revoked, SOR/88-86, s. 2]

Importation at Free Rates of Customs Duties

4 Subject to sections 5 and 6, the privilege of importation at free rates of customs duties of articles for their personal or family use is extended to

• (a) ambassadors, ministers, high commissioners and consuls general of career representing their countries in Canada;

• (b) members of the diplomatic corps and staffs of high commissioners’ offices eligible for inclusion in the diplomatic list published by the Department of External Affairs;

• (c) consuls of career;

• (d) vice consuls of career;

• (e) trade commissioners of career; and

• (f) assistant trade commissioners of career.

5 Application for the importation at free rates of customs duties of goods, other than motor vehicles, shall be made in writing to the chief officer of customs, a separate application being made for each importation.

• 6 (1) Application for importation at free rates of customs duties of motor vehicles imported subsequent to first arrival in Canada, shall be made in the form set out in the schedule, and be forwarded by the applicant to the Deputy Minister.

• (2) On approval of the application and receipt of the Free Rate of Customs Duties Importation Authorization in duplicate, the applicant shall present the Authorization, in duplicate, to the chief officer of customs at the customs office where the motor vehicles were reported.

• 7 (1) Applications by persons specified in paragraph 4(b) shall be approved by, or in the name of, the appropriate ambassador, minister or high commissioner.

• (2) Applications by persons specified in paragraphs 4(c) to (f) shall be signed as follows:

  • (a) when made by consuls of career, by the appropriate consul general or by the consul in charge in offices where there is no consul general;

  • (b) when made by vice consuls of career, by the appropriate consul general or consul in charge in offices where there is no consul general, or by the vice consul in charge where there is no consul;

  • (c) when made by trade commissioners of career, by the senior trade commissioner or by the trade commissioner in charge in offices where there is no senior trade commissioner; and

  • (d) when made by assistant trade commissioners of career, by the trade commissioner in charge of the office or by the assistant trade commissioner in charge in offices where there is no trade commissioner.

Importation at Free Rates of Customs Duties on First Arrival Only

8 The privilege of importation at free rates of customs duties of personal and household effects, including motor vehicles, but not including spirituous liquors, is extended on their first arrival to representatives of foreign governments sent by their governments to posts in Canada, and their families.

Resale

• 9 (1) Subject to subsection (2), goods that have been imported at free rates of customs duties under these Regulations may be sold or disposed of in Canada without payment of customs duties where the goods have been in the use and possession of the importer in Canada for a period of at least one year.

• (2) Motor vehicles that have been imported at free rates of customs duties under these Regulations may be sold or disposed of in Canada without payment of customs duties where the motor vehicles have been in the use and possession of the importer in Canada for a period of at least two years.

• (3) In the event of the decease or transfer away from Canada of a person referred to in section 4 before the expiration of the two-year period mentioned in subsection (2), waiver of payment of customs duties may be authorized by the Minister on the recommendation of the Secretary of State for External Affairs.

Articles for Official Use

10 Uniforms, office equipment, stationery and similar supplies sent by the government of any foreign country for the official use of any of its officers in Canada shall be imported at free rates of customs duties.

11 and 12 [Revoked, SOR/88-86, s. 7]