Q. I need to take some camera equipment out to Japan for a film shoot. What's the best way to do this? Should I take it out as a temporary export from the UK?
A. The ATA Carnet is an international Customs document that is presented to Customs each time goods enter or leave a country. It allows goods to be temporarily imported without payment of Customs charges for up to one year. In order to use the carnet, the goods must be covered by one of the following categories: commercial samples, professional equipment or for use in exhibitions/demonstrations.
ATA Carnets enable the holder to make advance customs arrangements at a pre-determined cost, visit more than one country with the goods, use their ATA Carnet for several trips during its one-year validity and return to their home country with their goods, without problems or delays.
ATA Carnets can be obtained from Chambers of Commerce and can only be used for shipments to and from countries that have signed up to the ATA convention.
If the country is not a signatory to the ATA Convention, then exporters may be able to use the duplicate list procedure for temporary export from the UK. SITPRO’s guide to temporary exports at http://www.sitpro.org.uk/trade/tempexport.html has more information about both methods.
For further information on the issue of ATA carnets in the UK and details of Chambers of Commerce in other countries, please contact the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 33 Queen Street, London EC4R 1AP Tel: 020 7248 4444
If you need help with a trade procedures query, call the Helpdesk on
020 7215 8150 or email helpdesk@sitpro.org.uk 
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Return to SITPRO News: Issue 66, November 2008