INTERNATIONAL TRADE

1. Who is the ATA Carnet holder?

The holder is the company/individual that is financially liable for the goods listed on the ATA Carnet.

The holder must always be based in the UK.

Box A on the front cover of the ATA Carnet should detail holder information, including:

• The name of the holder company
• The address of the holder company

Box B should detail the names of the Carnet representatives.

See image below for the location of Box A and Box B. 

Box J on the front cover of the Carnet must be signed before the Carnet can be used. Only the Director of the holder company should sign in Box J.

See image below for the location of Box J.

2. What is the ATA Carnet holder’s responsibility?

The holder is financially and legally responsible for the ATA Carnet and the goods listed on it. As a result, the holder must pay any and all charges that may be imposed by customs authorities.

It is the holder’s responsibility to make sure that:

• The ATA Carnet is stamped correctly:

- On exit out of the UK

- On entry back into the UK

- On entry into all foreign countries/customs territories

- On exit out of foreign countries/customs territories

- On entry into and exit out of all transit countries/customs territories

• The ATA Carnet is not lost or damaged
• The ATA Carnet is returned to Business West via a tracked method (e.g. Royal Mail Special Delivery or courier) before the Carnet expiry date

3. Who is the ATA Carnet authorised/named representative?

The ATA Carnet authorised/named representative is anyone who has been given permission by the holder to:

• Present the Carnet to customs
• Sign in Box F of the vouchers
• Be involved in the transport/movement of the Carnet and the goods listed on it 

This includes:

• The haulier/driver 
• The agent
• Tour crew members

To be an authorised/named representative, you must be given permission by the holder. Numerous people can be Carnet representatives, and they can be given permission in two different ways:

1. Their names can be listed in Box B on the front cover of the Carnet. To do this, the names must be input during the application process.  
2. Their names can be listed on the ‘To Whom’ letter of authorisation attached to the front cover of the ATA Carnet. This can be done once the application is completed and the Carnet has been received. 

All authorised/named representatives must always have ID on them to present to customs. 

4. What is the ATA Carnet ‘To Whom’ letter?

The ‘To Whom’ letter is attached to the front cover of the Carnet. It must be signed by the Director of the holder company (i.e. the same person who signs in Box J on the front cover). 

The ‘To Whom’ letter can be used to give permission to additional representatives (i.e. those that haven’t already been listed in Box B). 

For example, if the holder is using a haulier or freight forwarder to transport their goods and Carnet, they may not know the name of the driver/drivers when they are applying for the Carnet. For the driver to be given permission to handle the Carnet, their name can be added to the ‘To Whom’ letter once the application has been completed and the ATA Carnet has been received. Essentially, it means that permission can be given to drivers when the Carnet is already on the road.