How to create an ATA Carnet General List

Creating your ATA Carnet list shouldn’t be a headache.  Our expert team have compiled this guide to help you get it right first time to save you time and hassle. 

Lists should either be uploaded to the general list section of your eCERT application or emailed directly to the Carnet team in the provided template format only, which can be found in your Carnet application in eCERT. 

Example List: 

Tips for getting ATA Carnet General Lists to upload to Ecert correctly:

• You should not add or delete any columns, and always save as a CSV (comma delimited) 
• There shouldn’t be any blank lines, or the system will think that this is an item with data missing 
• All country of origins should be listed as two-letter ISO country codes 
• The unit column should not have any data in it 
• If you have any headings on the list, please write TRUE in the heading column to indicate that this is a heading 
• The list will not upload if any item is missing a quantity, value or country of origin 
  
  

General Requirements:

1. The value must reflect the true commercial value in the UK. 

2. All item descriptions must note at the end either a serial number (pre-fixed ‘S/N’ e.g S/N12345abc) or ‘NSN’ where there is no serial number. 

3. At least a total weight must appear on the General List. 

4. Goods comprising several separate parts (including spare parts and accessories) may be given a single item number in column B. If so, the nature, the value and, if necessary, the weight of each separate part shall be entered in column A and only the total weight and value should appear in columns D and E. 

5. Items answering to the same description may be grouped provided that each item so grouped is given a separate item number in ‘pieces’. If the items grouped are not of the same value, description or weight their respective values, and, if appropriate, weights shall be specified in column A. 

6. Packing List terminology such as “Box of”, “Box containing”, “Assorted”, “Various”, “Accessories” and liberal use of the phrase “set of” (other than for cables) cannot be used as part of the description of goods, as they do not clarify what is actually being taken. The only instances where packaging information could be used is in the format of headings within the list (i.e. not as an actual item). 

7. There should be no consumables i.e. perishable goods. 

Specific Item Requirements:

Books/Musical Scores: 

All titles/scores required unless they are theatre props. 

Vehicles (including motorbikes): 

Must state the chassis and engine number as well as the make. 

Cinematography: 

All films must give titles and footage. 

Clothing: 

Must say what the garments are i.e.: jacket, dress, skirt with as much detail as possible

1. Brand, colour and style number OR 
2.  Sign a statement to the effect that they will use numbers in column one as style numbers 
   
   

Display stands:

For panels, give sizes. If knockdown stands give either trade name, e.g., Marler Hayley and serial number with area and weight of stand when erected and at exhibition site. Or full breakdown and size of each panel (photographs useful). 

Electrical items:

Trade names (make), model, serial numbers. If no serial numbers, then the holder should either:

1. State that there are none 
2. State prototype 
3. State that numbers are not available yet, but that they will be put on the reverse of the green front cover (Page 1), in column 7 of the General list, only by HMC, and be duly stamped
    

Horses: 

Sex, age, colour, hands and name. Passport details. 

Jewellery:

Individual description and stock numbers, stating carat weight (of gold as well as individual precious stones) and total gram weights. Colour of the gold must be stated to allow for easier Customs identification. This can be abbreviated as YG or WG with the key to abbreviations given at the end of the list. The actual or estimated carat weight of any stones MUST be given (photographs also useful but mandatory for Israel). Earrings and cufflinks should be itemised as “pairs” unless shipped as single items. 

Loose precious stones (polished stones only):

Loose stones must be in sealable stone packets which may be itemised by the packet. If weight per stone is less than 0.1 gm, then the number of stones need not be stated Carat weight or grams necessary: 

1. Loose diamonds (30) 1pk 25cts £400 India 
2. Loose sapphires (29) 1pk 38cts £600 India 

Stones must be kept in sealable packets which may be subject to Customs via examination. On the Carnet each packet must be shown as: 

“1 packet containing … number of stones” followed by the total carat weight of stones in that packet and the value (i.e. what a trader could reasonably expect to sell them for in a foreign country). 

The Carnet should also bear the declaration: “We certify the values shown on this Carnet are the true commercial sales values”. Each Carnet application must be accompanied by a letter containing the above declaration signed by the Company Director. 

Uncut (rough) diamonds require a Kimberley Process Certificate kpuk@fco.gov.uk 

Oriental carpets: 

Size, colour, name (if any), weight, number of knots. You must have Customs entry forms to support commercial values and that duties paid in the UK. Letter from company stating that the values shown are the true commercial values in the UK. 

Paintings: 

Type i.e. oil giving title and name of artist. 

Pearls:

Pearls are invariably listed as a strand rather than one item for example: “1/10 7-7.5mm cultured freshwater pearl strands STX9264 10 0.250kg HK”. 

Photographic:

No polaroid film allowed. For other types of film give number of rolls and types of film, and state that film is unprocessed. 

Records:

All names or serial numbers must be stated i.e. individually itemised. 

Skins/furs:

State the type, size, area or weight. 

Note: furs cannot be sent on a Carnet to Norway. 

Stamps:

Example: “1/300 Lots 5 & 6 Spanish stamps 300 3gms £20 ES” 

A Catalogue must be provided, one for the Chamber records and one to be kept with the Carnet. The catalogue must be endorsed by the Chamber on the front cover only, it is not necessary to stamp every page of the catalogue. 

Tools: 

At values of £150 and under, weight is only required. Over £150 weight and number of pieces must be given. ‘Toolkits’ can comprise only of hand tools, electrical tools must be itemised separately. 

Applying for an ATA Carnet can feel like a complicated process, but we hope this guide makes your application easier and quicker. Please get in touch if you have any specific questions or check out our other blogs for more useful information on applying for Carnets: Carnets@businesswest.co.uk