Transportation of equipment between EU member states:
Since the 1992 abolition of custom duties at internal borders between EU member states, most border controls and formalities related to merchandise have been eliminated.
Due to its temporary nature, the import and export of equipment connected with a film shoot does not require a customs declaration and is not subject to duty.
For further information please visit:
www.ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/40customs/customs_general_info/about/index_en.htm
www.europa.eu/pol/cust/index_en.htm
Transportation of equipment between an EU member and a non member state:
In order to bring film equipment from the United States to Italy, the “Temporary Export /Import Procedure” must be followed.
The first step is the preparation of a detailed “Pro-forma Invoice” listing the material required for filming, along with the equipment’s serial numbers, quantity of film stock, etc. The invoice must be filed with the Customs Office in the country of origin. Once approved in Italy, the shipment is checked by the Italian Customs for verification that its contents match the Pro-forma Invoice. Upon approval, the Customs Office issues a “Temporary Import Entry”, valid for six months, and extendable for an additional six months. If technical personnel accompany the shipment from the country of origin, no customs fees need to be paid. In the case where materials have been shipped by a U.S. company to an Italian company, with no technical personnel accompanying the shipment, it is necessary to deposit a bond corresponding to a percentage of the value of the shipment (with the Customs office), or to stipulate a “Performance Guarantee Contract”.
Temporary importation cannot exceed a period of 12 months. If the limit is surpassed, the “Pro-forma” invoice changes into a “Final” invoice, thus rendering the importation of the materials permanent, and payment of the relative customs duty becomes due.
International Convention for the Institution of the A.T.A Carnet
The purpose of this convention is to facilitate and aid temporary import and export operations among participating countries. (full list below)
The ATA Carnet is an international customs document that permits duty-free and tax-free temporary import of goods for up to one year. The initials “ATA” are an acronym of the French and English words “Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission.” Generally ATA Carnets cover: commercial samples; professional equipment (film equipment and film stock included);
goods for presentation or use at trade fairs, shows, exhibitions and the like.
The ATA Carnet service is available to business and sales executives, exhibitors at trade fairs
and travelling professionals, such as film crews, architects, artists, engineers, entertainers,
photographers, sports teams and many more. The ATA Carnet is a simple international customs document with two sheets for presentation for each foreign country you wish to visit, and two sheets for presentation to customs when leaving and returning to your home country.
The A.T.A. Carnet satisfies the requirements of both Customs Offices and private business, in as much as it facilitates the shipment of covered goods from one country to the other simply by presenting the document to the Custom Offices involved. The carnet contains, in simplified and standardized form, the declarations to be submitted to Customs upon the entry or the exit of the goods, into or from, the various countries, and exempts the recipients from the obligation to post a security bond covering the amount of the customs duties. All this is made possible by the existence of an “International Warranty Network”, formed by entities which, in addition to issuing the A.T.A. carnets in their own country, act as warrantors towards the national Customs Administration and are obliged to advance any amount payable as a consequence of misuse of the carnet.
Countries Accepting ATA Carnets:
Algeria, Andorra, Antarctica, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Balearic Islands, Belarus, Belgium, Botswana, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary Islands, Ceuta, Chile, China, Corsica, Curacao, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, European Union, Finland, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Isle Of Man, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jersey, Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Martinique, Mauritius, Mayotte, Melilla, Miquelon, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Barthelemy, St Martin, St. Pierre, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tahiti, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States Wallis & Futuna Islands.
For further information and to download an ATA carnet please contact:
In US:
United States Council for International Business
1212 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036 USA
Tel. +1 212 703 5080
Fax +1 212 944 0012
atacarnet@uscib.org
www.merchandisepassport.org
www.uscib.org
www.atacarnet.com
In Italy:
Italian Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Craftsmen, and Agriculture
Piazza Sallustio 21 00187 Roma, Italy
Tel. +39 06 470 4235 or +39 06 470 4236
Fax +39 06 487 1995
commercio.estero@unioncamere.it
www.unioncamere.it
In case of large quantities of material it is advisable to call on a specialized freight agent to take care of transport and customs clearing.
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