Amateur Photographer & Cinematographer (1936)

July 22nd, 1936 Going Abroad For the benefit of those readers of “ The A.P.” who may be travelling to the Continent during the holiday season we give the following information regarding the admittance of photographic apparatus and materials carried by them when visiting the countries named. This information has been supplied by the various overseas Customs authori¬ ties to the British Department of Overseas Trade, and we are indebted to the ComptrollerGeneral for the details. It should be noted by photographers taking photographic apparatus out of this country, when going abroad for holidays, that a declaration regarding it — with description for identification — should be made at the port of embarkation, otherwise duty may be charged on it when returning to England. The necessary form is obtainable from the Customs officials at the port. iHt AMATEUR PHOTOORAPHER p 6 CiriEMATOGRAPHER o France. Exemption from payment of duty is accorded to : Two cameras, providing they are of different makes ; twelve plates or two roll films or two film packs ; one sub-standard cine camera.; two rolls of film for cine camera. Only one camera is permitted duty-free import in addition to a cine camera. Germany. Cameras, cine cameras and films are admitted duty-free if they are carried by tourists for their personal or profes¬ sional use during their journey, or if they are sent to them in advance for this purpose or forwarded to 'them sub¬ sequently. New articles of this kind are admitted free of charge as travelling requisites only if they were already in the tourist’s possession abroad and if it may be supposed, judging by the quantity and nature of the articles, that they are intended for personal use during the journey. The decision as to what quantities of new articles may be admitted free of charge is left to the Customs officers. Belgium. Used photographic apparatus carried by tourists is admitted free of duty without Customs formalities. When the apparatus is new or has the appearance of being new a deposit of the duty {15 per cent ad valorem) and the luxury tax (9 per cent of the duty-paid value) must be made. This deposit would be refunded on re-export. ' Photographic plates, films (roll films, pack film, etc.) and sensitized paper imported at the same time as the photographic apparatus for which they are intended are admitted free of duty in the following quantities : Twenty-four plates ; four roll films or film packs of six exposures, or three roll films or film packs of eight exposures. or two roll films or film packs of twelve exposures. Unexposed films for cinematographic apparatus is liable to duty as follows ; Positive film 0.17 francs per metre, negative film 0.34 francs per metre, both plus a luxury tax of 9 per cent of the duty-paid value. Switzerland. Exemption from payment of duty is accorded to : Two used cameras and twelve plates or two roll films ; used cinematographic apparatus and two rolls of film. Duty is levied on new cinematographic apparatus, but if a temporary import permit [passavant) is obtained from the Customs authorities the amount paid is refunded when the apparatus is re-exported. Spain. Articles imported by bona-fide tour¬ ists are admitted into Spain on deposit of the duty normally payable. This deposit is returned to the tourist provided his stay does not exceed three months. It is necessary that the tourist on enter¬ ing Spain should be in a position to indicate the Customs House through which he proposes to leave Spain. Portugal. Cameras, including cine cameras car¬ ried by passengers, as well as films in small quantities, are exempted from payment of import duties. Czechoslovakia. Used cameras and twelve plates or one packet of films are admitted duty¬ free. U.S.S.R. Tourists are permitted to bring cam¬ eras with them into the Soviet Union, but only one of these articles for each family. They are admitted free of duty, but must be entered on the tourist’s passport by the Customs autho¬ rities at the frontier, and must be taken out by the tourist on his departure. They must not be given to any other person for his use, either on payment or free of charge, nor presented as a gift unless the Custom'S duty has pre¬ viously been paid. Holland. Cameras imported by foreign tourists for their personal use and taken out of the country on their return, are generally 80 admitted without a demand for security for Customs duty being made. If, however, the Customs authorities have doubt as to whether the articles are for the personal use of the importer, or as to whether the goods will be re-exported, and the person concerned objects to paying import duty for the goods in question, a transit passport for a maxi¬ mum period of six months may be issued against deposit of the duty. After the Customs authorities have received proof of re-export the deposit is returnable. Sweden. Cameras, including cine cameras of the CineKodak type, carried by tourists are admitted free of duty, without being subject to deposit of duty or guarantee. There are no regulations with regard to the number of camera films which may be admitted free of duty. This would be at the discretion of the Cus¬ toms officer in accordance with what he considered a reasonable supply for the personal use of the owner. Norway. It is understood that cameras, in¬ cluding cine cameras of the CineKodak type, and films therefor are permitted to enter Norway duty-free when they are brought in by travelling foreigners. In general, a declaration is required from the person in question to the effect that the articles are only intended for his personal use during a short stay, and will again be carried out of the country on his departure. Latvia. Used cameras and sub-standard cine cameras, together with the respective films, are admitted free of duty. Italy. Cameras, including cine cameras of the Cine-Kodak type, introduced into Italy by tourists coming from abroad are admitted duty-free on condition that such articles have been used and are appropriate to the financial standing of the tourist. Films for cameras or cine cameras are liable to duty. Greece. Small cameras can be imported by tourists free of duty. There are no provisions regarding the amount of films which may be admitted. 22