Shari: My son who is a Customs Officer in Australia has advised:

"Although Australia class these as returned goods, it would be of 
interest to see how they were imported into the country in the first place.
In Australia, temporary imports require a carnet (international 
permission to move goods around to specified countries issued at the 
country of origin) or a temporary import entry with or without surety 
(deposit of money in case it never leaves again) depending on the goods. 
Once again, all of this is paperwork based which gives the evidence of 
the country of origin."

I do hope that this is of some help.

While one can be wise after the event, the experience should teach us to:

    * Check with the customs people in the country of origin and the
      receiving country for procedures. Get details in writing.
    * Maintain a complete documentation file, including details of any
      phone calls with the relevant parties.

Desmond Kennard
Museums in the making
HILL TOP, NSW
Australia

Karen Reeds wrote:

> It might help to appeal  to your congressional folks, to the American 
> cultural attache in Kenya,  and to the Kenyan cultural attache in 
> Washington.
>
> As chair of a scholarly prize committee for American Assoc of History 
> of Medicine, I ran into a similar problem last year with UPS/Brazilian 
> customs.  We give the winner a facsimile page from a medieval 
> manuscript--worth about $200. We ended paying close to that much (on 
> top of UPS charges) to get it out UPS abandoned property and to the 
> prizewinner--never mind the cost of all the time/emails/calls. The 
> only good outcome is that I'm on first-name terms with our local UPS 
> store staff.
>
> Karen Reeds
>
>
>> Date:    Sat, 20 Aug 2005 00:09:12 -0700
>> From:    Shari Davis Benny Ferdman <[log in to unmask]>
>> Subject: Help with Customs Problem
>>
>> Dear List,
>> I'm hoping someone might have some insight to help us over an art  
>> shipping obstacle. At the conclusion of an exhibit we curated we had 
>> a painting shipped UPS back to the artist in Kenya. We insured the 
>> painting for $4000--the amount the artist valued the work at.  A few 
>> weeks ago the artist e-mails us telling us that the painting has has 
>> been stuck in customs since May and that the customs office in 
>> Nairobi is asking $1500 for its release (due to the high value) as 
>> well as daily storage fees. i e-mailed the UPS customs partner in
>> Kenya explaining the painting belonged to the artist, was on loan for 
>> an international exhibit, no money was exchanged, and it  is now 
>> being returned to the artist. I told her I can fax loan agreement,  
>> more information about the exhibit etc. She replied asking me to send 
>> a more detailed letter she can submit to customs.
>> The artist cannot pay this amount, the only other recourse is to have 
>> it shipped back to the send--hundreds of dollars!  Or it will be 
>> auctioned off.
>> Des anyone on the list have experience with this? Is there certain 
>> information or wordage to put on the letter to make it more likely 
>> the customs office will release it to the artist? What recourse do I 
>> have? Any help would be appreciated.
>> Shari Davis
>> Creative Ways
>> Interactive Exhibits & Educational Resources.
>
>
>

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