General list of goods
This section provides more detailed information about the requirements of providing the general list of goods for an ATA Carnet.
The general list of goods is a critical part of the ATA Carnet. It describes the goods in detail so customs can identify them. It is printed on the back of the green cover and on each voucher. It must be completed before the Carnet is issued.
The general list forms part of the guarantee to foreign customs that the same goods will be re-exported.
Inaccurate descriptions increase the risk of delays, inspections or duty claims.
The general list of goods should be listed by:
- itemising every article individually with its own description:
- make, model or other identifying details
- serial number, or No Serial Number (NSN) if no serial number is present
- weight
- value
- only only grouping identical items together
- avoiding using packaging as a description:
- do not write ‘box of tools’ or ‘bag of cables’
- you can note that items are packed in a bag or box after their description — for example, “Canon camera lenses 80–200mm, s/n 1234, packed in a box”
-
cables can be described as a ‘set of cables’ and treated as one item
- toolkits (non-electrical hand tools) can be listed as a single item provided you state the:
- weight
- number of pieces in the set, if valued above £150
- electrical tools within a toolkit must be itemised separately
- electrical items (computers, scientific equipment, electrical musical instruments) must include:
- make
- model
- serial number — note ‘NSN’ if no serial number is present or if the item is a prototype
- using retail values for new items or replacement values for used items
To help customs authorities identify goods accurately and reduce the risk of claims, issuing chambers, such as LCCI and UKNATACO, typically recommend providing additional descriptive detail for certain types of goods.
Recommended descriptive details for certain goods:
- boats — include make, model, length and registration number (itemise any outboard engines separately)
- books — state title, author and publisher
- cinematography — list film titles and footage
- clothing and textiles — describe garment type, colour, brand, style number; unfinished bespoke suits for fitting are generally allowed only for Switzerland
- musical instruments and equipment — provide generic description, make, model and serial number
- display stands and exhibition equipment — include sizes; for knock-down stands list trade name and serial number and either full breakdown or erected dimensions
- electrical equipment — show make, model, serial number or note NSN if there is none
- furniture — generic description including material and (if known) dimensions
- horses and tack — list sex, age, colour, height in hands, name, and detailed tack list
Additional categories commonly used by chambers:
- jewellery — describe each piece individually with weight, stones, colour of gold; some countries require photographs (for example, Israel, Russia)
- loose precious stones — itemise packets by count and total weight; uncut stones require a Kimberley Process Certificate
- military goods — describe make, model, serial number
- carpets — give generic description, size, colour, weight and knots if known
- paintings — describe medium, title, artist, year (if known)
- pearls — usually listed as a strand, for example “7–7.5 mm cultured freshwater pearls”
- photographic film — state number of rolls, film type, and whether unprocessed
- records, skins and furs, theatrical effects — include names and serial numbers and describe type, weight or intended production