India Committed to Expanding ATA Carnet Acceptance

The Indian Customs Commissioner at a meeting in Delhi with the national guaranteeing association, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), firmly committed to expanding the ATA Carnet systems in India in 2016. This development was reported by WATAC, the World ATA Carnet Council.

Indian Customs and FICCI are committed to expanding to accept Professional Equipment (PE) in addition to already accepting Goods for Exhibitions and Fairs (EF). Plans to discuss a date for expansion, equipment to be accepted, the validity period for PE and authorized ports is scheduled for June.

India has accepted EF since October 4, 2005 when they began allowing EF for sanctioned government exhibitions through specified ports only. The proposed expansion will open up a significant portion of the Indian marketplace to temporary imports of PE under ATA Carnets and provide import duty and tax relief to exporters throughout the carnet system. Indian customs regulations will be amended to expand carnets acceptance as a "start" to expanding the system. We hope this is the beginning of India implementing all three sub-conventions including commercial samples in the future.