New Zealand Introduces Instant Fine System for Customs Violations
Companies and individuals who violate New Zealand customs requirements can now be issued a range of instant fines, according to a list of infringement offenses from New Zealand Customs. The list was mentioned in an April 17 notice from Baker McKenzie. The changes were introduced in October as part of the country’s Customs and Excise Act of 2018 but were not implemented until after a six-month “education phase,” according to the notice. They became effective April 1, 2019.
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The act gave customs the authority to issue individuals an instant $400 fine and a business an $800 fine for any of 70 “minor infringement” offenses, the notice said. The offenses include violations such as “making an erroneous declaration,” importing “prohibited goods” and failing to provide “advance notice of departure.” Some offenses are more broad, including failing to “comply with Customs Officer’s direction” and “person with custody of detained goods fails to keep them safe.” The notice said the fines will impact “all international arriving and departing passengers at airports and ports, importers, exporters, excise manufacturers, brokers and Customs-controlled areas.”