Sounds to me like Customs are just throwing their weight around.
As far as I'm aware barrels aren't controlled items and can be bought and sold at will. Actions/receivers are a different story though.
Maybe they (the gov't)just want to hush up the fact that there is already an unforseen loop-hole in their shiny new laws? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
Ken