What occurs if merchandise remains in the general order warehouse for the specified time?

When merchandise remains in a general order warehouse beyond the specified time, it typically becomes subject to destruction. This procedure is in place to manage items that are unclaimed or left in storage for too long, as they occupy valuable space and require resources for maintenance. The customs authorities have regulations that govern how long items can remain in such facilities before action is needed, including destruction.

However, the other options reflect different practices that may occur in other contexts. For instance, automatic clearance of merchandise does not occur just because of time elapsed; the customs process is more regulated. The idea of auctioning the merchandise is a possibility, but it generally follows specific scenarios where customs decides to recoup duties rather than waiting indefinitely. Similarly, returning items to the sender is not a common procedure for unclaimed items in a warehouse context. Thus, destruction emerges as the standard outcome when no action is taken within the allowable timeframe for retaining goods in a general order warehouse.