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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2026 No. 80
CUSTOMS
The Free Zone (Customs Site No. 1
Celtic) Designation Order 2026
Made - - - - 29th January 2026
The Treasury, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 100A of the Customs and Excise
Management Act 1979(1), make the following Order.
Citation and interpretation
1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Free Zone (Customs Site No. 1 Celtic) Designation Order
2026.
(2) In this Order—
(a) a reference to an area “shown edged and hatched in red” on a map is a reference to the
hatched area extending up to the red edging, but not including the red edging itself;
(b) “customs obligation” has the same meaning as given in regulation 2(1) of the Customs
(Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018(2);
(c) “HMRC” means His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs;
(d) “HMRC officer” means an officer of Revenue and Customs;
(e) “the Special Procedures Regulations” means the Customs (Special Procedures and
Outward Processing) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018(3);
(f) “unauthorised activity” means an activity specified in regulation 3(2)(b)(v) or 3(2)(c)
of the Special Procedures Regulations that is not carried out in accordance with an
authorisation or approval under those Regulations.
Period of effect of Order
2. This Order has effect for a period of 10 years beginning with the day after the date on which
it is made.
(1) 1979 c. 2. Section 100A was inserted by section 8 of, and Part I of Schedule 4 to, the Finance Act 1984 (c. 43).
(2) S.I. 2018/1248; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2020/1449 and 2021/1156.
(3) S.I. 2018/1249, amended by S.I. 2021/1156; there are other amending instruments, but none is relevant.Document Generated: 2026-01-30
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
Designation of area as free zone
3. The area shown edged and hatched in red on the map entitled “Celtic Freeport - Customs site
No.1” dated 31 October 2025(4) is designated as a free zone.
Appointment of responsible authority
4. The responsible authority for the free zone is Dyfed Steels Limited, incorporated on 23
November 1976 with the Company Number 01287461, whose registered office is Tube Works,
Maescanner Road, Dafen, Llanelli, Dyfed, Wales, SA14 8NS.
Conditions imposed on responsible authority
5. The responsible authority must—
(a) keep separate accounts in respect of its role as responsible authority for the free zone;
(b) maintain a system for the keeping, preserving or updating of records required to be kept,
preserved or updated by the responsible authority in accordance with regulation 44 (record
keeping) of the Special Procedures Regulations;
(c) make any records for which the responsible authority is responsible, relating to the
free zone and the activities carried on in it, available for inspection, access (including
electronic) and copying for removal by an HMRC officer, at an office in the free zone or
other agreed place;
(d) provide to any person authorised by the Treasury such information in connection with the
free zone and the operation of it (which may include copies of the records referred to in
paragraphs (b) and (c)) as that person may reasonably require;
(e) ensure that the area referred to in article 3 is enclosed and that entry and exit is permitted
only at the points marked as access points on the map;
(f) provide, free of expense to the Crown, such accommodation and facilities including
furniture, fittings and equipment as the Commissioners(5) may reasonably require which
must be properly maintained, heated, lighted, ventilated and kept clean by the responsible
authority;
(g) provide, free of expense to the Crown, such area of land within the free zone as the
Commissioners may reasonably require for the examination of goods and vehicles;
(h) provide and maintain, free of expense to the Crown, any appliances and other facilities
which the Commissioners may reasonably require to enable an account to be taken of any
goods or make any examination or search;
(i) comply with any requirement imposed by an HMRC officer under regulation 18E(9)
(control of other activities in free zones by responsible authority) of the Special Procedures
Regulations;
(j) take reasonable steps to ensure that no unauthorised activity is carried out in the free zone;
(k) take reasonable steps to ensure that any goods specified in a notice made under
regulation 18C(2) (free zone businesses - conditions) of the Special Procedures
Regulations are not brought into the free zone;
(4) The map marked “Celtic Freeport - Customs site No.1” and dated 31st October 2025 is available electronically at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/map-of-celtic-freeport-customs-site. A person unable to access the document
electronically can arrange access to a hard copy by inspection free of charge at 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ.
(5) “The Commissioners” are defined in section 1 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.
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(l) take reasonable steps to ensure that no goods leave the free zone otherwise than in
circumstances where their removal would be in accordance with provision made by or
under the Taxation (Cross-border) Trade Act 2018(6);
(m) take reasonable steps to ensure that persons carrying out any activities in the free zone
comply with any customs obligation related to the free zone;
(n) notify HMRC as soon as reasonably practicable—
(i)of any breach of a customs obligation by any person in relation to any goods that are
or have been in the free zone, or have been declared for a free zone procedure under
the Special Procedures Regulations, that it becomes aware of;
(ii)if it fails to comply with any condition or restriction to which its appointment as
responsible authority is subject;
(iii)if there is a change in circumstances that is relevant to its appointment as responsible
authority;
(o) notify HMRC of any planned construction in the free zone.
Conditions relating to health and safety
6. Without prejudice to the responsibilities of persons occupying premises within the free zone,
the responsible authority must take reasonable steps to ensure that the accommodation, facilities and
working conditions within the free zone are safe and without risk to the health and safety of any
persons in the free zone.
Gen Kitchen
Stephen Morgan
Two of the Lords Commissioners of His
29th January 2026 Majesty’s Treasury
(6) 2018 c. 22.
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EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order designates the Customs Site No. 1 Celtic as a special area for customs purposes (a “free
zone”) and appoints Dyfed Steels Limited as the responsible authority for the free zone designated
by this Order pursuant to the Treasury’s powers under section 100A of the Customs and Excise
Management Act 1979 (“CEMA”).
Articles 5 and 6 of the Order set out the conditions which are imposed on the responsible authority.
Failure to comply with any of these obligations may result in the designation of the area being
revoked under section 100A(3)(e) of CEMA.
A Tax Information and Impact Note covering the Free Zones (Customs, Excise and Value Added Tax)
Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1156) was published on the website at https://www.gov.uk/government/
collections/tax-information-and-impact-notes-tiins and remains an accurate summary of the impacts
that apply to this instrument.
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