Section 12: Import of goods into the Zone

(1) The Authority and any approved enterprise shall be entitled to import into a Zone, free of customs duty, any capital goods, consumer goods, raw materials, components or articles intended to be used for the purposes of and in connection with an approved activity, including any article for the construction, alteration, reconstruction, extension or repair of premises in a Zone or for equipping such premises.
(2) For the purposes of this section, articles for equipping premises shall be deemed to include equipment for offices and other ancillary facilities necessary for the proper administration of the premises and for the health, safety, hygiene and welfare of the premises and of persons employed therein.
(3) The Authority may by order, amend or vary the articles specified in the Fourth Schedule to this Act.
(4) All goods brought into a Zone shall be consigned-
(a) to the Authority or to an approved enterprise and the goods may, with the approval of the Authority, be transferred from one approved enterprise to another or from the Authority to an approved enterprise or from an approved enterprise to the Authority; or
(b) without prejudice to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, to a bank acting on behalf of any party to a transaction involving the Authority or an approved enterprise.
(5) The Authority may take such steps as it deems necessary to preserve goods within a Zone, whether by moving the goods from one place to another or by storing the goods and where any expenses are incurred by the Authority in so doing, the owner or consignee of the goods shall reimburse the Authority for the expenses.
(6) Subject to the provisions of this Act and any regulations made thereunder, goods brought into a Zone pursuant to this section may-
(a) unless otherwise directed by the Authority, be stored, sold, exhibited, broken up, packed, graded, cleaned, marked, re-marked, loaded, unloaded, reloaded, divided, mixed, separated or otherwise manipulated; or
(b) be worked, processed or reprocessed or otherwise manipulated or manufactured; or
(c) be consumed if the goods are meant for consumption in the Zone, unless otherwise directed by the Authority; or
(d) subject to subsection (7) of this section, be removed from a Zone or sent into the customs territory, whether as originally packed or otherwise; or
(e) subject to any enactment pertaining thereto, be destroyed.
(7) Where any goods which are dutiable on entry into the customs territory are sent from a Zone into the customs territory, the goods shall be subject to the provisions of the Customs, Excise Tariff, etc. (Consolidation) Act and any regulations made thereunder, and if the goods are intended to be disposed of in the customs territory shall not be removed from the Zone unless-
(a) the consent of the Authority has been obtained; and
(b) the relevant customs authorities are satisfied that all import restrictions relevant thereto have been complied with and all duties payable in connection with the importation thereof into the customs territory have been paid.
(8) Samples of goods being taken into the customs territory shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (6) of this section, except in cases where the relevant customs authority is satisfied that such goods are of no commercial value.
(9) Where goods are brought from the customs territory into a Zone for the purposes of an approved activity the goods shall be deemed to be exported.
(10) The Pre-Import Inspection Scheme shall not apply to imports of goods into the Zones for use by approved enterprises in the Zones.