ATA carnet: what to know when hauling fair and sample goods

A customer asks you to haul trade fair stand material, product samples or a film crew's equipment. The goods are going abroad, they will not be sold, and they will come back when the job is done. This is where the ATA carnet comes in.

What is an ATA carnet?

ATA comes from "Admission Temporaire / Temporary Admission". It is an international customs document that lets goods enter a foreign country temporarily without posting a separate duty guarantee at each border. The system works under international customs conventions and carnets are issued in each country by an authorised chamber of commerce or association. In Turkey this runs through TOBB; the owner of the goods has to apply to the authorised body.

Which goods?

Three groups stand out:

• Trade fair and exhibition material: stands, promotional material, exhibits.
• Commercial samples: examples taken abroad for sales purposes.
• Professional equipment: devices that a technician, artist, film or broadcast crew takes along for work.

Goods that will be sold, consumed or processed abroad do not qualify; those need a normal export and import procedure.

Validity and return

A carnet has a limited validity, generally no more than one year. The key rule is that the goods must come back, in the same state, before the carnet expires. If goods are missing or unaccounted for on return, a claim can reach the guaranteeing body. The owner must understand this obligation, and you should write down in the contract who is responsible for what.

What the carrier should know

1. The carnet belongs to the owner of the goods. As carrier you should take it so that it travels with the driver and the load; keep a photocopy.
2. The goods list must match the load. Piece counts, serial numbers and descriptions on the carnet must correspond exactly to what is on the truck.
3. Border formalities. The exit and entry vouchers are processed by customs. Tell the driver clearly which page is to be stamped and when.
4. Delays and route changes. If the route or schedule changes, inform the owner at once; time limits matter.
5. Insurance and liability. Fair goods are often high in value. Settle insurance cover and the CMR liability limit in writing before the order.

How it relates to transit documents

An ATA carnet solves temporary import; moving goods in transit from one customs office to another is a separate matter. If your route crosses a third country, check against the list of parties whether the carnet covers it. A T1 transit or another transit document may be needed. Ask your customs broker for firm guidance.

On Order And Load

If you put the carnet copy and the goods list in the order's document area, both sides can look at the same document even while the driver is on the road.